Revolutionaries take control of Libyan town

Libyan revolutionaries say they have driven forces loyal to embattled leader Mummar Gaddafi out of strategically important town of Gharyan, located 50 km south of Tripoli.

Opposition sources say the government forces were forced to retreat from the town on Thursday.

The town has been the scene of fierce fighting between opposition fighters and government troops in recent days.

Meanwhile, revolutionary fighters also say they are controlling most parts of oil-rich town of Zawiyah, 40 km west of the capital Tripoli.

They also took control of Zawiya’s oil refinery late Wednesday after heavy fighting with Gaddafi troops.

Head of Libya’s Transitional National Council Mustafa Abdul Jalil has said that a final victory over Gaddafi was ‘on the horizon’.

“The revolutionary troops are moving to encircle Tripoli from different directions,” he said on Tuesday.

Despite major advances by revolutionaries in the past few months, the situation on the ground remains deadlocked.

Libya has been the scene of intense fighting between government troops and revolutionary forces since a revolution, seeking to topple Gaddafi, began in mid-February.