Fighting, Airstrikes and Protests Rock Libya
VOA News March 04, 2011
At least fifteen people have been reported dead in fierce battles as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi launched an offensive Friday to retake a Western city that has been under rebel control for days.
Western and pan-Arab news stations report deaths and injuries from the fighting in and around Zawiyah, 50 kilometers west of Tripoli. The reports say the casualties came from the ranks of fighters and civilians. There were reports of shelling and airstrikes by the government-controlled military.
Clashes and battles erupted in several other cities.
Forces loyal to Gadhafi fired tear gas at demonstrators in Tripoli. Several hundred anti-government protesters rallied after Friday prayers. Some chanted "Gadhafi is the enemy of God."
Clashes were also said to have erupted between pro and anti-Gadhafi forces in the the eastern oil port of Ras Lanuf. And, opposition protesters rallied on Friday in the city of Benghazi, a rebel stronghold.
Earlier Friday, Libyan warplanes carried out a third day of airstrikes - targeting a military base near the eastern rebel-held town of Ajdabiya. Rebels holding the base say there was no damage from the strikes.
Meanwhile, Interpol issued a global alert against Gadhafi and 15 other Libyan nationals, including some of his family members and close associates. The alert warns member states of the "danger posed by the movement" of the individuals and their assets.
The alert comes after the International Criminal Court announced it had opened a probe against Gadhafi and some of his associates into possible crimes against humanity.
Libya's unrest follows waves of demonstrations in other Middle Eastern and North African countries in recent weeks. Anti-government demonstrations have forced the long-time leaders of Tunisia and Egypt to step down. But Gadhafi has refused to budge, and the conflict in Libya has escalated.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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