Libya’s Opposition Fighters Make Advances, NATO Resumes Raids

Libyan revolutionaries made fresh gains in both the east and the west of the country, as the NATO stepped up air raids on Tripoli.

In the west of the country, the fighters managed to force government troops into retreat from the town of Kikla, about 150km southwest of the capital, Tripoli, on Tuesday, news agencies said.
In the east, opposition fighters launched more attacks against Gaddafi forces near the oil town of Brega, where fighting on Monday killed at least 25 fighters and wounded dozens more.

The fighters have spent months trying to seize the strategic oil hub of Brega, which would open the road to Sirte, embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi’s home town, and from there to Tripoli.
Brega boasts an important oil refinery which could supply the east of the country with much-needed fuel to produce electricity.

Libyan state TV said the bombings had struck military and civilian targets in Firnag, one of the biggest neighborhoods in Tripoli, and Ain Zara. It said there were casualties.
Two loud explosions sent plumes of smoke rising above the city late on Tuesday.
Earlier, smoke was seen rising near Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound, though it was not clear exactly what had been targeted.

The military alliance said it had struck targets such as a rocket launcher and an armored vehicle mounted with anti-aircraft guns east of the capital.

Meanwhile, At Zlitan, just west of the opposition-held city of Misrata and about 135km from Tripoli, NATO forces dropped leaflets bearing their symbol, along with an image of an Apache attack helicopter and burning tanks.

MILITARY MISSION LENGTH
The latest strikes came amid concerns about the length of NATO’s mission in Libya.
A senior NATO official, Gen Stephane Abrial, said coalition resources would become “critical” if the operation in Libya continued.

NATO took over the Libyan mission on 31 March.
South African President Jacob Zuma said the UN resolution that authorized the use of force to protect civilians in March was being abused for “regime change, political assassinations and foreign military occupation”.