Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Libya rebels 'capture Misrata airport'

Libyan rebels have captured Misrata airport, driving back troops loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi, reports say.
Hundreds of rebels were celebrating in the streets after pro-Gaddafi forces fled, leaving behind tanks that were set on fire, witnesses said.
Government forces have been pounding the western city, which remains largely under Col Gaddafi's control, for weeks.
Its port has become a lifeline for supplying civilians and for evacuating wounded people fleeing the fighting.
Meanwhile, explosions were reported in the capital Tripoli on Wednesday, after Nato said its planes had carried out 6,000 missions over Libya since it assumed command of military operations there at the end of March.

The air strikes have helped secure rebels in their strongholds in eastern Libya, but observers say it remains unclear to what extent they have loosened Col Gaddafi's grip on western Libya.
Following a wave of revolutions across the region, Libya's uprising was sparked by February's arrest of a human rights campaigner in the eastern city of Benghazi that rapidly spread to other cities.
Authorities used aircraft to attack protesters, prompting the resignation of many Libyan diplomats as rebel forces called on Col Gaddafi to relinquish his five-decade rule and open Libya up to a more democratic rule.
France and Italy have recognised the Benghazi-based opposition Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
The EU has frozen the assets of Col Gaddafi and members of his family, and banned the supply of arms, ammunition and any equipment that could be used for "internal repression".
source-BBC

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