Libyan government forces reportedly gaining upperhand
| 09:15 UK time, Monday, 14 March 2011
I'm Martin Vennard, not Ben Sutherland, as the entry would suggest. I'm just borrowing his logon till I get my own.
There are reports from Libya that forces supporting Col Gaddafi have advanced on rebel-held strongholds, recapturing the eastern town of Brega. Dozens of rebel fighters have pulled out of the area amid heavy shelling.
In the last major rebel base in western Libya, Misrata, tank fire has been reported from the outskirts of the city.
Reporting from the town of Bin Jawad, the 91Èȱ¬'s Wyre Davies in Libya says anti-government forces seem to have lost the initiative.
Does this signal the beginning of the end for rebellion or are reports of its demise premature?
Further east down the strategic coastal road, Col Gaddafi's troops have already pushed rebels from after attacking the oil port in an assault pitting tanks and planes against rebels armed with light weapons and machineguns mounted on pick-up trucks.
However, the rebels say they've fought off pro-government troops and have re-entered Brega.
Some rebels in Misrata said on Sunday night that the government offensive had been halted by fighting amongst government troops. There had been a mutiny after some refused to attack, they claimed.
And in Libya's second city, Benghazi, the mood remains defiant, says the 91Èȱ¬'s Pascale Harter, with many wounded fighters returning but other residents heading for the front line.
Meanwhile, France has said that it wants to speed up diplomatic efforts to impose a no-fly-zone over Libya.
The policy would be aimed at preventing Col Gaddafi's forces using warplanes to attack rebel positions, although no clear position has emerged on exactly how this would be achieved.
On Saturday, the Arab League agreed to ask the UN Security Council to enforce such a zone, a move the US called an "important step".
Could this help the rebels? Tell us your views.
