Libya Revolution 2011,Libya rebels recapture key town 

 

Libya Revolution 2011,Libya rebels recapture key town

 

Libyan rebels backed by extensive allied air raids have seized control of the frontline oil town of Ajdabiya from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces.

Insurgents have been celebrating amid the ruins of tanks and artillery pieces left behind after air strikes.
Gaddafi loyalists seized the town last week as they advanced east to quell an uprising which began in mid-February.

A Libyan minister said the army had left the town after the "heavy involvement" of western forces.
Saturday's breakthrough came after a seventh night of bombardment by allies enforcing a UN-mandated no-fly zone.
British RAF Tornado aircraft have been firing Brimstone guided missiles at Gaddafi forces in recent days around Ajdabiya, a town of about 100,000 people.
The BBC's Ben Brown, in Ajdabiya, says those strikes seemed to be even heavier overnight.
Gaddafi 'promotes everyone' He counted about two dozen Libyan government tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces which have been either abandoned or destroyed at the eastern gate of the town.

There is even more wrecked weaponry at the western gate and lots of bodies of Gaddafi fighters, our correspondent has been told.

People have been standing on abandoned Gaddafi tanks, firing guns into air, dancing in the streets and blaring car horns, he adds.
Some of them chanted "Thank you, Obama", "Thank you, Cameron" - references to the US president and British prime minister.
The rebels say they are going through the town street by street trying to make sure there are no Gaddafi fighters or snipers left.
Reuters news agency, which earlier said the town's western gate was still in the hands of Gaddafi forces, later quoted a Libyan government official as admitting they had abandoned the town.
"They [Western forces] were heavily involved, so the Libyan armed forces decided to leave Ajdabiya this morning," Khaled Kaim, a deputy foreign minister, told reporters.
Large explosions were also heard in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Saturday morning.
Witnesses said a military radar site was set on fire in that city's suburb of Tajura, a previous target of the air raids.
In his weekly address, US President Barack Obama said that the "clear and focused" military mission in Libya was succeeding.
"Make no mistake, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians - innocent men, women and children - have been saved," he said.
Col Gaddafi is meanwhile said to have ordered a universal promotion for everyone in the army and police, and proposed arming civilian volunteers.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi says the administration's latest move smacks of desperation.
Pro-Gaddafi forces are still trying to recapture Misrata, the last major western Libyan town in rebel hands, and residents reported shelling continuing there late on Friday.