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| Libyan rebels say they lack weapons and Nato support | Libyan rebels say they lack weapons and Nato support |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Rebel leaders in Misrata say progress towards the capital Tripoli is being hampered by a lack of ammunition and inadequate support from Nato. | Rebel leaders in Misrata say progress towards the capital Tripoli is being hampered by a lack of ammunition and inadequate support from Nato. |
| On Wednesday, officials in the rebel-held city said 17 of their fighters were killed and more than 60 wounded. | On Wednesday, officials in the rebel-held city said 17 of their fighters were killed and more than 60 wounded. |
| Rebel forces and soldiers loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi have been locked in a stalemate to the west of Misrata for more than six weeks. | Rebel forces and soldiers loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi have been locked in a stalemate to the west of Misrata for more than six weeks. |
| A rebel spokesman said Nato air cover was patchy, with deadly consequences. | A rebel spokesman said Nato air cover was patchy, with deadly consequences. |
| "When the aircraft is flying in the sky... it means Gaddafi's forces cannot use rocket launchers on the ground, they are afraid [of] aircraft... observing them and... striking them," Fatti Bashada told the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, near Misrata. | "When the aircraft is flying in the sky... it means Gaddafi's forces cannot use rocket launchers on the ground, they are afraid [of] aircraft... observing them and... striking them," Fatti Bashada told the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, near Misrata. |
| Mr Bashada said that despite repeated requests to keep patrolling the skies, Nato aircraft have, in recent days, disappeared half-way through a battle. | Mr Bashada said that despite repeated requests to keep patrolling the skies, Nato aircraft have, in recent days, disappeared half-way through a battle. |
| "When there's no flight, it means they are free to use any weapons against us," he said, adding that rockets fired by Col Gaddafi's fighters were killing an increasing number of rebels. | "When there's no flight, it means they are free to use any weapons against us," he said, adding that rockets fired by Col Gaddafi's fighters were killing an increasing number of rebels. |
| Libya is under an international arms embargo and fresh supplies from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the east of the country have been slow in coming. | Libya is under an international arms embargo and fresh supplies from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the east of the country have been slow in coming. |
| Rebels have said that, until this changes, their progress towards Tripoli will be both slow and painful. | Rebels have said that, until this changes, their progress towards Tripoli will be both slow and painful. |
| UN Security Council resolution 1970 imposed an arms embargo on Libya but US and UK officials have argued that a susequent resolution, 1973, could nonetheless allow weapons to be supplied to rebels fighting to topple the Libyan leader. | |
| Arms drop | Arms drop |
| On Wednesday, rebel fighters reportedly advanced on the village of Gualish, a desert hamlet some 100km (60 miles) south-west of the capital, after a battle that lasted several hours. | |
| The small desert settlement is an important step towards the larger garrison town of Garyan, which controls the main road towards the capital. | The small desert settlement is an important step towards the larger garrison town of Garyan, which controls the main road towards the capital. |
| In the west of the country, rebel forces have also made some advances around the port city of Misrata. | In the west of the country, rebel forces have also made some advances around the port city of Misrata. |
| Some accounts said the rebels had seized the strategically important western part of the settlement, which contains an electricity sub-station and a water tower. | Some accounts said the rebels had seized the strategically important western part of the settlement, which contains an electricity sub-station and a water tower. |
| At least four rebels were killed and 17 were injured, a doctor in nearby Yefren said. | At least four rebels were killed and 17 were injured, a doctor in nearby Yefren said. |
| The rebels say they have dug in some 7km (4 miles) west of their previous front line at Dafniya, on the city's outskirts, and are in control of an area known as Na'imah. | The rebels say they have dug in some 7km (4 miles) west of their previous front line at Dafniya, on the city's outskirts, and are in control of an area known as Na'imah. |
| Rebels hold much of Libya's east, plus Misrata and several towns in the Nafusa mountains near the Tunisian border. | Rebels hold much of Libya's east, plus Misrata and several towns in the Nafusa mountains near the Tunisian border. |
| Those in the mountains have been boosted by deliveries of arms dropped by French aircraft last month. | |
| Russia has condemned France for supplying weapons to the rebels and, along with China, has said that the Nato campaign has gone beyond the remit of resolution 1973. | |
| Since anti-government protests turned into armed rebellion in February, the two sides have been locked in a stalemate, despite a Nato-led air campaign against Col Gaddafi's forces. | Since anti-government protests turned into armed rebellion in February, the two sides have been locked in a stalemate, despite a Nato-led air campaign against Col Gaddafi's forces. |
| Nato and several Arab states mandated to defend civilians have been carrying out air strikes against military targets linked to Col Gaddafi for more than three months. | Nato and several Arab states mandated to defend civilians have been carrying out air strikes against military targets linked to Col Gaddafi for more than three months. |
| Pressure has been growing to find an end to the conflict. The rebels insist Col Gaddafi must step down. | Pressure has been growing to find an end to the conflict. The rebels insist Col Gaddafi must step down. |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he had "no confirmed information that Gaddafi has sounded out the possibility to step down". | Speaking on Wednesday, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he had "no confirmed information that Gaddafi has sounded out the possibility to step down". |
| But he said it was clear that the "end state must be that he leaves power". | But he said it was clear that the "end state must be that he leaves power". |