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Libya conflict: Rebels push towards Tripoli Libya conflict: Rebels push towards Tripoli
(about 1 hour later)
A Libyan rebel push towards the capital Tripoli has run into stiff resistance, as the Gaddafi regime renewed claims that it wants a ceasefire. A Libyan rebel push towards the capital Tripoli has run into stiff resistance, as the Gaddafi regime renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Buoyed by recent gains, the rebels took the town of Jaddayim but were forced to retreat when they reached Maya, 35km (22 miles) west of Tripoli.Buoyed by recent gains, the rebels took the town of Jaddayim but were forced to retreat when they reached Maya, 35km (22 miles) west of Tripoli.
A BBC correspondent says the lightly armed rebels are little match for government artillery. A BBC correspondent says lightly armed rebels met heavy government artillery.
The government accused Nato jets of working to clear a path for the rebels. The government accused Nato jets of working to clear a path for the rebels, and called for talks to end the crisis.
Heavy gunfire and several explosions were heard in the city overnight but rebel reports of a popular uprising inside the capital were not borne out, and support for Col Muammar Gaddafi remains strong, correspondents say. In Tripoli, support for Col Muammar Gaddafi remains strong, correspondents say. But new gunfire and protests were reported in Tripoli on Sunday, following fierce clashes in several districts overnight.
Rebel forces have advanced from the east and west in recent days as Nato jets pounded government infrastructure and material and Nato warships controlled sea routes. Rebel forces have advanced from the east and west in recent days, backed by Nato aircraft ostensibly enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians from Col Gaddafi's forces.
Artillery fire Critics accuse the organisation of overstepping its mandate by helping the rebels.
Having spent the morning travelling with jubilant rebel forces out of in the west, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports that their advance stalled at Maya. 'Sniper fire'
Having spent the morning travelling with jubilant rebel forces advancing west of Tripoli, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports that their progress stalled at Maya.
Colonel Gaddafi's Libya is under pressure like never before. Rebel forces are advancing towards the capital. They will expect to meet resistance before they arrive here. But the uprising may have started from within.Colonel Gaddafi's Libya is under pressure like never before. Rebel forces are advancing towards the capital. They will expect to meet resistance before they arrive here. But the uprising may have started from within.
Overnight there were fierce clashes in several districts, with Col Gaddafi promising his people that the rebels had been "eliminated". Certainly the sound of the fighting indicated that troops had been ordered to fight them with all they have. The Libyan information minister called for an immediate ceasefire. He said a peaceful way out of the crisis needed to be negotiated, that the government had been saying this for months.Overnight there were fierce clashes in several districts, with Col Gaddafi promising his people that the rebels had been "eliminated". Certainly the sound of the fighting indicated that troops had been ordered to fight them with all they have. The Libyan information minister called for an immediate ceasefire. He said a peaceful way out of the crisis needed to be negotiated, that the government had been saying this for months.
And he added that Nato would have blood on its hands if this did not happen. He said it was only with Nato support that the rebels were able to advance on Tripoli and that if they were allowed to enter, their priority would be blood and revenge.And he added that Nato would have blood on its hands if this did not happen. He said it was only with Nato support that the rebels were able to advance on Tripoli and that if they were allowed to enter, their priority would be blood and revenge.
They were met with very heavy incoming fire and ran back along the road, setting up a new front line a few kilometres out of the town, our correspondent says.They were met with very heavy incoming fire and ran back along the road, setting up a new front line a few kilometres out of the town, our correspondent says.
The rebels do not have heavy artillery and when they come up against Grad rocket launchers, for example, they do not have much to defend themselves with, he adds.The rebels do not have heavy artillery and when they come up against Grad rocket launchers, for example, they do not have much to defend themselves with, he adds.
Since the reverse at Maya, Nato has reportedly launched air strikes in the area.Since the reverse at Maya, Nato has reportedly launched air strikes in the area.
Hundreds of rebel fighters poured into Jaddayim on Sunday morning after heavy fighting for the town. Hundreds of rebel fighters had earlier poured into nearby Jaddayim on Sunday morning after heavy fighting for the town.
In the capital itself, four loud explosions were heard on Sunday morning following hours of sustained gunfire in the city. In the capital itself, four loud explosions were heard on Sunday morning followed by intermittent small-arms fire.
There were overnight reports of protests and gunfire in areas to the north and east of Tripoli, including the Tajoura district, where there was trouble at the start of this uprising against Col Gaddafi, the BBC's Matthew Price reports from the capital. While the source of the blasts and gunfire was unclear, rebel sources and witnesses told news agencies that clashes were under way between rebels and government supporters in the eastern neighbourhoods of Soug Jomaa, Arada and Tajoura.
The most intense period of fighting came at around 21:00 local time (19:00GMT) but the level of gunfire was much reduced by Sunday morning, our correspondent says. Snipers on high buildings were firing on protesters in at least one area, rebel commander Mukhtar Lahab was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. It added that residents contacted in the city by telephone also reported snipers firing on civilians.
The overnight fighting was almost certainly opponents of Col Gaddafi already in scattered parts of Tripoli rising up against pro-Gaddafi forces, rather than rebel forces advancing into the capital, our correspondent adds. Witnesses told the AFP news agency that local people had taken to the streets late on Saturday, setting tyres ablaze, while calls urging the population to rise up were made from the loudspeakers of mosques.
Government officials say the attack was put down within half an hour and Col Gaddafi congratulated his supporters for repelling rebel "rats", while his son, Saif al-Islam, ruled out any possibility of surrender. The overnight fighting almost certainly involved opponents of Col Gaddafi already in scattered parts of Tripoli rising up against pro-Gaddafi forces, rather than rebel forces advancing into the capital, the BBC's Matthew Price reports from the capital.
Government officials said clashes in the city on Saturday had been put down within half an hour, and Col Gaddafi congratulated his supporters for repelling rebel "rats", while his son, Saif al-Islam, ruled out any possibility of surrender.
In another development, a Maltese ship heading for Tripoli to pick up refugees came under fire and could not dock in the port, Polish foreign ministry officials said, without specifying where the fire had come from.
Ceasefire callCeasefire call
Information Minister Moussa Ibrahim accused Nato of "opening the roads ahead of the rebels who are too weak to do anything themselves".Information Minister Moussa Ibrahim accused Nato of "opening the roads ahead of the rebels who are too weak to do anything themselves".
He also accused the rebel forces of massacring people in towns and villages seized in recent days, and warned of "many" deaths and "terrible crimes... inside Libyan cities".He also accused the rebel forces of massacring people in towns and villages seized in recent days, and warned of "many" deaths and "terrible crimes... inside Libyan cities".
Tripoli, he insisted, was well protected by "thousands upon thousands of professional soldiers".Tripoli, he insisted, was well protected by "thousands upon thousands of professional soldiers".
At the same time, he urged the rebels to open talks. "If you want peace, we are ready," he said.At the same time, he urged the rebels to open talks. "If you want peace, we are ready," he said.
The Libyan leader certainly has support in Tripoli, our correspondent there says. Pro-Gaddafi men and women have received weapons training in recent weeks, while checkpoints have sprung up across the city.The Libyan leader certainly has support in Tripoli, our correspondent there says. Pro-Gaddafi men and women have received weapons training in recent weeks, while checkpoints have sprung up across the city.
On Saturday, the rebels announced they had been forced back in the east by government artillery in the oil port of Brega.On Saturday, the rebels announced they had been forced back in the east by government artillery in the oil port of Brega.
Brega, home to Libya's second-largest hydrocarbon complex and where oil from the country's main fields is refined, has repeatedly changed hands during the conflict.Brega, home to Libya's second-largest hydrocarbon complex and where oil from the country's main fields is refined, has repeatedly changed hands during the conflict.
Libya's conflict broke out in February, inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt which toppled the presidents of those countries.Libya's conflict broke out in February, inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt which toppled the presidents of those countries.
Rebels in the east rapidly consolidated their gains, but a stalemate developed in the west as rebels there faced overwhelming military force.Rebels in the east rapidly consolidated their gains, but a stalemate developed in the west as rebels there faced overwhelming military force.
Nato is enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians from Col Gaddafi's forces but critics say it has overstepped its mandate by helping the rebels.
Are you in any of the areas affected by the fighting? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in any of the areas affected by the fighting? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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