Libya rebels ‘push back troops’

Misrata has seen weeks of battles as the rebels attempt to maintain their control

Rebels in the Libyan city of Misrata say they have pushed government troops back from its outskirts.

Misrata, the only city in western Libya under rebel control, has been under siege from forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi for two months.

Rebels and civilians have come under heavy fire from the pro-Gaddafi forces.

The rebels say the city is still surrounded and within rocket range, but that they have advanced about 30km (18 miles) west towards Tripoli.

Libyan state media has said Nato aircraft bombed “military and civilian targets” in Misrata and the nearby town of Zlitan on Monday.

Reporting restrictions mean the claims from both sides cannot be independently verified.

In a statement, Nato said a sortie near Misrata on Sunday hit rocket launchers, artillery and three buildings which were “hosting active shooters”.

Medical sources say at least 300 people have been killed by the weeks of fighting in Misrata.

Reda, a rebel spokesman, told Reuters news agency there was fighting in the east, west and south of the city as well as near the airport.

“The revolutionaries control the western side while the brigades are still holding the south-eastern side of the airport,” he said, adding that they had been aided by recent Nato air strikes.

An AFP correspondent in Misrata said the rebels were now in control of a stretch of coastline heading towards the capital.

Another rebel, Mohammed, told the BBC: “We’ve pushed Gaddafi away from Misrata.”

He said the situation had improved in Misrata, with fewer bombings and shootings than in the past few weeks.

“People are getting back to a safe life. Many families are going out of the houses for shopping. Many families are going back to houses they left before when this started.”

Mohammed said the morale of the rebels was high, and that “they want to keep going”.

The BBC’s Andrew Harding in Benghazi says the rebels have managed to get arms into Zlitan and are hoping its residents will rise up.

But the town is still controlled by pro-Gaddafi troops, he adds, so it will not be easy for the rebels to achieve that goal.

Meanwhile, a Red Cross ship has successfully docked in Misrata, bringing medical equipment, baby food and spare parts for electrical and water systems.

The port has become a lifeline for the city, allowing refugees to leave and supplies to be brought in, but has come under repeated attack from Gaddafi forces.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has told CNN that Col Gaddafi has been “stopped in his track” and that his time is running out.

“The game is over for Gaddafi. He should realise sooner rather than later that there’s no future for him or his regime,” he said.

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