.- The rebels recaptured the strategic cities Saturday Ajdabiya and Brega, in eastern Libya, his first major victory since the start of the international military intervention against the forces of Muammar Gadhafi regime a week ago. The heaviest fighting is now concentrated in Misrata, 200 km east of Tripoli, where French fighters came to the aid of the rebels, asedidados by forces loyal to Gadhafi that bombed the city, and destroyed "at least" seven Libyan military aircraft .
In the East, thanks to support international military air forces against pro Gadhafi, the insurgents took control of strategic buffer Ajdabiya, 160 km south of Benghazi, a stronghold of the opposition, and after the oil city of Brega, 80 km further west, according to journalists at the scene.
Forces had retaken Ajdabiya Gadhafi last week during its offensive against the rebellion, which dominated the east for a month, and were preparing to attack Benghazi, but the military intervention of the international coalition, launched on March 19, slowed their progress. Libyan rebel forces on several occasions suggested the fighters loyal to the leader Moammar Gadhafi, entrenched in Ajdabiya, surrender, but they refused and were attacked, said Saturday in Benghazi a spokesman for the insurgents.
Ajdabiya is the first city conquered by the rebels since the start of the military offensive of the Allies. "The fighting was incessant on Friday and everything calmed down to the 23:30 local time (21:30 GMT). And, at midnight, Gadhafi's men left," said Bashi Omar, a resident of Adjabiya.
The fighting, according to the rebellion, left nine dead and nine wounded, while on the outskirts of the city were collected the bodies of 21 fighters of forces loyal to Colonel Qaddafi, according to medical sources. Other bodies charred or destroyed by bombs still lying in the desert. "Ajdabiya is a hundred per cent under the control of our forces and we are pursuing Gadhafi forces on the road to Brega, 75 kilometers to the west," said Abdulmolá in Benghazi, a stronghold of the rebels in the east.
"Gadhafi forces are on the defensive, since they have no air force or heavy weapons," he continued. By late afternoon the rebels claimed to have regained control of Brega, according to a journalist who travels with them. A rebel who was in the sector, the Maadani Abdelsalam, contacted by telephone, said the city had been retaken.
"We are at the center of Brega" he said. "Gadhafi's forces retreated, now must be on Al Bisher (30 km west of Brega) and the rebels are also moving into the area," he added. Abdulmolá stressed that coalition bombing had "prepared the battlefield" for the rebels and said officers and experienced soldiers who had deserted their posts in the armed forces of the dictator, on Thursday took an important role in Ajdabiya siege.
These military coordinated their attacks with the coalition, to take action between the bombing. Asked about a Washington Post article claiming that the coalition planned to ship arms to insurgents, a spokesman, Ahmed Khalifa, said at the time had not received anything, but that such weapons would be welcome.
Meanwhile, the coalition continued to press. Their planes made 153 sorties by 67 U.S. fighter-bombers and 86 other participating countries: France, UK, Canada, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Qatar. "With the resumption of Ajdabiya, the trend has reversed," said Col. Thierry Burkhard, spokesman of the French army.
"The pressure on the population has fallen in the area of Benghazi and also begins to decline in other areas." U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday sought to reassure his fellow citizens, concerned about the risk of involvement in Libya, saying that air strikes are succeeding. "We're succeeding in our mission.
We have left out a Libyan air defenses. Gaddafi's forces are no longer progressing more through Libya, "said Obama, started a week after the attacks on the forces of the Libyan dictator." Because we intervene quickly, avoiding a humanitarian catastrophe (...) Every American can feel proud of the lives saved in Libya, "said Obama.
According to an official at the Libyan Ministry of Health, the coalition attacks have caused at least 114 dead and 445 injured since last Sunday, mainly in and around Tripoli. Despite statements from a combative tone, the Gadhafi regime declared Friday to be willing to accept a roadmap, driven by the African Union (AU), which proposed a ceasefire and the beginning of a dialogue with a view to Libyans "transition" democratic.
But while his forces are still trying to recover Misrata City, stronghold of the rebels in the west to continue its bombing, according to a witness. A few days before the planned summit on Tuesday in London French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced "a Franco-British initiative, which seeks a political solution to the conflict" to show that the solution can not be military.
"Italy, for its part, its own plan during the meeting. 
In the East, thanks to support international military air forces against pro Gadhafi, the insurgents took control of strategic buffer Ajdabiya, 160 km south of Benghazi, a stronghold of the opposition, and after the oil city of Brega, 80 km further west, according to journalists at the scene.
Forces had retaken Ajdabiya Gadhafi last week during its offensive against the rebellion, which dominated the east for a month, and were preparing to attack Benghazi, but the military intervention of the international coalition, launched on March 19, slowed their progress. Libyan rebel forces on several occasions suggested the fighters loyal to the leader Moammar Gadhafi, entrenched in Ajdabiya, surrender, but they refused and were attacked, said Saturday in Benghazi a spokesman for the insurgents.
Ajdabiya is the first city conquered by the rebels since the start of the military offensive of the Allies. "The fighting was incessant on Friday and everything calmed down to the 23:30 local time (21:30 GMT). And, at midnight, Gadhafi's men left," said Bashi Omar, a resident of Adjabiya.
The fighting, according to the rebellion, left nine dead and nine wounded, while on the outskirts of the city were collected the bodies of 21 fighters of forces loyal to Colonel Qaddafi, according to medical sources. Other bodies charred or destroyed by bombs still lying in the desert. "Ajdabiya is a hundred per cent under the control of our forces and we are pursuing Gadhafi forces on the road to Brega, 75 kilometers to the west," said Abdulmolá in Benghazi, a stronghold of the rebels in the east.
"Gadhafi forces are on the defensive, since they have no air force or heavy weapons," he continued. By late afternoon the rebels claimed to have regained control of Brega, according to a journalist who travels with them. A rebel who was in the sector, the Maadani Abdelsalam, contacted by telephone, said the city had been retaken.
"We are at the center of Brega" he said. "Gadhafi's forces retreated, now must be on Al Bisher (30 km west of Brega) and the rebels are also moving into the area," he added. Abdulmolá stressed that coalition bombing had "prepared the battlefield" for the rebels and said officers and experienced soldiers who had deserted their posts in the armed forces of the dictator, on Thursday took an important role in Ajdabiya siege.
These military coordinated their attacks with the coalition, to take action between the bombing. Asked about a Washington Post article claiming that the coalition planned to ship arms to insurgents, a spokesman, Ahmed Khalifa, said at the time had not received anything, but that such weapons would be welcome.
Meanwhile, the coalition continued to press. Their planes made 153 sorties by 67 U.S. fighter-bombers and 86 other participating countries: France, UK, Canada, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Qatar. "With the resumption of Ajdabiya, the trend has reversed," said Col. Thierry Burkhard, spokesman of the French army.
"The pressure on the population has fallen in the area of Benghazi and also begins to decline in other areas." U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday sought to reassure his fellow citizens, concerned about the risk of involvement in Libya, saying that air strikes are succeeding. "We're succeeding in our mission.
We have left out a Libyan air defenses. Gaddafi's forces are no longer progressing more through Libya, "said Obama, started a week after the attacks on the forces of the Libyan dictator." Because we intervene quickly, avoiding a humanitarian catastrophe (...) Every American can feel proud of the lives saved in Libya, "said Obama.
According to an official at the Libyan Ministry of Health, the coalition attacks have caused at least 114 dead and 445 injured since last Sunday, mainly in and around Tripoli. Despite statements from a combative tone, the Gadhafi regime declared Friday to be willing to accept a roadmap, driven by the African Union (AU), which proposed a ceasefire and the beginning of a dialogue with a view to Libyans "transition" democratic.
But while his forces are still trying to recover Misrata City, stronghold of the rebels in the west to continue its bombing, according to a witness. A few days before the planned summit on Tuesday in London French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced "a Franco-British initiative, which seeks a political solution to the conflict" to show that the solution can not be military.
"Italy, for its part, its own plan during the meeting.
- LIBYA: On A Huge Offensive, The Rebels Capture Ajdabiya, Ras Lanuf And Brega (27/03/2011)
- Libyan rebels reclaim Brega - ABC Online (26/03/2011)
- Arming Libya's Rebels (30/03/2011)
- Libyan rebels take back strategic oil town of Brega in westward push (27/03/2011)
- Libyan rebels take back strategic oil town of Brega in westward push - The Guardian (27/03/2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment