President Gaddafi forces has captured Zawiya

[udun]

Libyan state TV reports that Zawiya is in the hands of government forces

Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces have intensified their campaign to wrest the western city of Zawiya from rebel control.

A fierce battle has raged all day, with government tanks pounding the main square, witnesses say.

Meanwhile, Col Gaddafi dispatched a top official to Egypt, and other envoys, reportedly, to Brussels and Portugal.

The government has offered a reward for the capture of rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the ex-justice minister.

The outcome of the revolt that began in mid-February to end the Libyan leader's 41 years in power appears to be hanging in the balance, say correspondents.

The BBC's Wyre Davies in Tripoli says the army seems to be hammering home its advantage over poorly equipped and badly organised rebel forces.

Rebel retreat

Zawiya, 50km (30 miles) from the capital Tripoli, has been battered over four days by government artillery, tanks and snipers.

One insurgent told Reuters news agency that government forces captured the main square on Wednesday, although the rebels were planning a counter-attack.

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A doctor in the city told the news agency that at least 40 people had been killed in the day's fighting.

One resident told the BBC that buildings had collapsed and people were trying to flee.

State TV reported that government forces were in full control of Zawiya, and showed pictures of what it said were residents staging a pro-Gaddafi demonstration in the city.

A Libyan army captain said: "Security is at about 95%. There are some rats that could be lying in some alleys and inside some flats. We are capturing them one group after the other."

With journalists denied access to frontline areas, the rival claims are difficult to verify.

Meanwhile, rebels retreated on the eastern front around the Mediterranean oil port of Ras Lanuf, amid heavy shelling and continued air strikes by government forces.

Huge explosions rocked oil storage tanks in Ras Lanuf on Wednesday afternoon, sending a tower of black smoke billowing into the sky.

There were further major blasts in the nearby town of Sidra and reports that an oil pipeline had been blown up, although government and rebel forces blamed each other.

Col Gaddafi earlier took to the airwaves again to warn his people would take up arms if the international community imposed a no-fly zone, as the rebels have urged.

In an interview with Turkish TV, he said a no-fly zone would show the true intention was to seize Libya's oil.

[udun]

It is clear that Gaddafi has more guts than the Tunisian president and Egypt's Mubaarak. He understood the nature of the threat and decided to confront it. Unless of course outside powers interfere it, it is clear rebels will be crushed.

[Kukri]

Allahu-Akbar!!!

Long liveGadafi.!.

[abdisamad3]

good job khadafi..

[gurey25]

Ghaddafi is goinng down.

why?

look at what he has left in Tripoli..
He has enough men and equipment left amongst his supporters in the armed forces to not only keep tripoli safe but to capture all the way into Benghazi.

instead he is having a tough fight with untrained rebels in zawaya and breda?

this proves that his own men are no that loyal... and are looking for the right opportunity to defect.

any half decent officer in the army with the arsenal and men in tripoli in his hands will easily take over benghazi

[SahanGalbeed]

The town of az zawiyah is not even 50 kms out of Tripoli to the West
Assuming this is true , since it is the 3rd time the State TV says they've captured the town , not a big accomplishment at all.

[kadarre]

Gaddafi will be overthrown.

[udun]

This says all:

A Libyan army captain said: "Security is at about 95%. There are some rats that could be lying in some alleys and inside some flats. We are capturing them one group after the other."

Unless outside forces interfere, rebels are heading for a defeat unless of course one of the neighboring countries shelter them and give them weapons, food, and sanctuary.

[LobsterUnit]

The Libyan war has only just started.Rebels are going through a learning curve. As time goes on, they will becomee more astute,organised and then we will probably see the goverment fall or Libya become state with various different entities ruling parts of the country. Right know, they have naively got carried away and thought that they could just march on Tripoli. Gaddafi hasn't won the war, for the war has not even started, mark my words, I ama gaajounit historian and sociologist. I know what I'm talking about, but I am wrong, most of the time. Habar JECLO!

[udun]

^more like you can predict the future gaajounit

[quark]

It is clear that Gaddafi has more guts than the Tunisian president and Egypt's Mubaarak. He understood the nature of the threat and decided to confront it. Unless of course outside powers interfere it, it is clear rebels will be crushed.

libya is a diffrent case compared to egypt and tunisia

libya is in a civil war

[Murax]

Qadaffi is on his way out but he is doing everything possible to make sure there is a civil war after he leaves, not to mention he's doing some last minute maneuvering