Thursday, April 28, 2011

Gadhafi Girds for Long Survival Battle

(Libya Twitter)-TRIPOLI—On a recent morning dozens of trucks filled with bulk food products coming via neighboring Tunisia were offloaded at the country's largest wholesale market outside the Libyan capital here.

The goods, including bags of flour and rice, filled warehouses as well as trucks headed to other centers sympathetic to Col. Moammar Gadhafi such as Sebha in the south.

Witnessed rebels firing off celebratory salvos into the night as a NATO warplane flew overhead.

After intense fire between the two sides in the afternoon with anti-aircraft guns being used, the insurgents moved toward the pro-Gaddafi lines on neighbouring hills and the government forces finally withdrew to a village held by a friendly tribe.
20 Grad rockets struck Zintan, three of which crashed near the hospital, damaging the parking area, the main gate and the entrance to emergency services as well as four nearby houses, a witness said.

In another development, Italy announced it would make four of its Tornado jets available for NATO to carry out airstrikes against military targets in Libya.

A few days ago, Italy reversed its earlier position that it would not take part in any airstrikes. Italian officials said the country's change of heart was prompted by Gadhafi's continued attacks on civilians in Misrata.

Mountainous area of Zintan, southwest of Tripoli, was one of the first to rise up against Gaddafi's regime in March.

Inhabitants of the western region have reported an upsurge in fighting in recent days, with Gaddafi forces pounding the town with Grad rockets and gunfire since Sunday.

Offensive represented a new tactic for the pro-Gadhafi forces, who have previously confined their attacks to the port area on Misrata's rebel-held east side.

Misrata has been under siege by Gadhafi's military for almost two months

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