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    July 07, 2011

Libyan Rebels Make Gains Near Tripoli

   VOA News
   Libyan protesters attend a rally against Moammar Gadhafi in Misrata,
   July 6, 2011
   Photo: Reuters
   Libyan protesters attend a rally against Moammar Gadhafi in Misrata,
   July 6, 2011

   Libyan rebels have seized two small towns south of Tripoli in a
   six-hour gunbattle with forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi, while
   opposition fighters east of the capital suffered heavy losses in
   clashes with government troops.
   Rebel forces said Wednesday they had gained control of al-Qawalish and
   Kikla, both within 100 kilometers of Gadhafi's stronghold of Tripoli.
   The next larger town to the north is Garyan, which controls a main road
   leading to the capital.
   Opposition fighters also pushed further from their western stronghold
   of Misrata toward the town of Zlitan but came under heavy artillery
   fire. Medics say at least 14 rebels were killed and 30 wounded in
   fighting near the city on Wednesday.
   In the rebel-stronghold of Benghazi, a senior Chinese diplomat met with
   leaders of Libya's rebel Transitional National Council.
   Chinese foreign ministry official Chen Xiaodong said Wednesday the TNC
   was an "important dialogue partner." He said China was "deeply
   concerned" about the civil war in Libya and called for a political
   solution to the conflict as quickly as possible.
   The meeting came as thousands of Libyans rallied in Benghazi, waving
   European and rebel flags and calling for Gadhafi's departure.
   Separately, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said allied warplanes have
   hit 2,700 targets in Libya since NATO began airstrikes in March, adding
   that efforts have "considerably degraded" Gadhafi's "war machine."
   Rasmussen also announced that a delegation of Libya's rebel
   Transitional National Council will meet with NATO and EU officials in
   Brussels next week.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

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