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Libyan rebels claim victory in battle for Brega Libyan rebels claim victory in battle for Brega
(about 7 hours later)
Libyan rebels say they are largely in control of the key eastern town of Brega, after close fighting in residential areas.Libyan rebels say they are largely in control of the key eastern town of Brega, after close fighting in residential areas.
Rebels say forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi are retreating west towards the town of Ras Lanuf. Rebels say forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi are retreating west towards Ras Lanuf.
They say Brega has been heavily mined and there are still pockets of resistance. The Libyan government denies the claims, insisting it is still in full control of Brega and has killed more than 500 rebels there.
It has not been possible to independently verify the rebel claims. A spokesman said they would rather "turn Brega into hell" than give it up.
It has not been possible to verify the conflicting claims.
Brega, about 750km (465 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, has changed hands several times in the fighting along Libya's Mediterranean coast since the rebellion began in February.Brega, about 750km (465 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, has changed hands several times in the fighting along Libya's Mediterranean coast since the rebellion began in February.
"The bulk of Gaddafi's forces have retreated to Ras Lanuf," rebel spokesman Shamsiddin Abdulmolah told AFP news agency."The bulk of Gaddafi's forces have retreated to Ras Lanuf," rebel spokesman Shamsiddin Abdulmolah told AFP news agency.
He said streets were littered with "an extraordinary number of anti-personnel mines", making it hard to fully secure the area.He said streets were littered with "an extraordinary number of anti-personnel mines", making it hard to fully secure the area.
The remnants of Col Gaddafi's troops in the town - believed to number about 150 to 200 - are holed up in industrial buildings with dwindling supplies, he added.The remnants of Col Gaddafi's troops in the town - believed to number about 150 to 200 - are holed up in industrial buildings with dwindling supplies, he added.
"Their food and water supplies are cut and they now will not be able to sleep. It is a matter of time before they come to their senses, we hope to prevent some bloodshed," he said."Their food and water supplies are cut and they now will not be able to sleep. It is a matter of time before they come to their senses, we hope to prevent some bloodshed," he said.
StalemateStalemate
Rebel forces around Brega are being hampered by missile attacks from the village of Bishr around 20km (13 miles) away, Mr Abdulmolah said.Rebel forces around Brega are being hampered by missile attacks from the village of Bishr around 20km (13 miles) away, Mr Abdulmolah said.
He said some rebel fighters had swept past Brega from the south to attack those positions.He said some rebel fighters had swept past Brega from the south to attack those positions.
"We hope to take Bishr today," he added."We hope to take Bishr today," he added.
Correspondents say the fall of Brega, if confirmed, would be a major breakthrough for anti-Gaddafi forces. However, government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim later insisted that Brega remained under the "full control" of loyalist forces.
They have been advancing on the town for several days from the north-east, east and south-east, despite heavy artillery fire from government troops. "They tried to recapture the town but were repulsed, losing 500 of their fighters in the battle," he told reporters in Tripoli.
"Unfortunately the criminal [National Transitional] Council is sending young Libyans to their deaths."
He added: "We will defend Brega to the last attack. We will turn Brega into hell - even if it causes the death of thousands of rebels we will not give up Brega."
Correspondents say the fall of Brega would be a major breakthrough for anti-Gaddafi forces.
Wave after wave of fighters have been advancing on the town since Thursday from the north-east, east and south-east, despite heavy artillery fire from government troops.
For weeks the Libyan conflict has appeared to be in a protracted stalemate with rebels holding eastern Libya and pockets in the west.For weeks the Libyan conflict has appeared to be in a protracted stalemate with rebels holding eastern Libya and pockets in the west.
Col Gaddafi remains entrenched in Tripoli, despite the Nato bombing campaign.Col Gaddafi remains entrenched in Tripoli, despite the Nato bombing campaign.
Nato has been targeting Libyan government weapons and military facilities under a UN mandate issued in March to protect civilians.Nato has been targeting Libyan government weapons and military facilities under a UN mandate issued in March to protect civilians.
'Need for democracy''Need for democracy'
In a separate development on Monday, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, who has led a mediation mission on behalf of the African Union, said that Libya needed a democratic government.In a separate development on Monday, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, who has led a mediation mission on behalf of the African Union, said that Libya needed a democratic government.
But he said that the Libyan people must decide their own destiny, and that if Col Gaddafi goes conditions must be in place as to when, where and how that happens.But he said that the Libyan people must decide their own destiny, and that if Col Gaddafi goes conditions must be in place as to when, where and how that happens.
Mr Zuma made his comments during a joint news conference in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, with the visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron.Mr Zuma made his comments during a joint news conference in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, with the visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Meanwhile, Russia has refused to recognise the rebel leadership as the legitimate government of Libya.Meanwhile, Russia has refused to recognise the rebel leadership as the legitimate government of Libya.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that such a move would amount to taking sides in a civil war.Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that such a move would amount to taking sides in a civil war.
His statement comes a day after the US and other Western and Arab powers recognised the Libyan opposition as the country's "legitimate governing authority" and repeated their demand that Col Gaddafi and his family should give up power.His statement comes a day after the US and other Western and Arab powers recognised the Libyan opposition as the country's "legitimate governing authority" and repeated their demand that Col Gaddafi and his family should give up power.
Nato aircraft have been targeting pro-Gaddafi forces near Brega in recent days, reporting hits on armoured vehicles and rocket launchers near the town, according to Reuters news agency.Nato aircraft have been targeting pro-Gaddafi forces near Brega in recent days, reporting hits on armoured vehicles and rocket launchers near the town, according to Reuters news agency.
Nato said its warplanes hit a military storage facility containing tanks, armoured personnel carriers and ammunition in Tripoli's eastern outskirts early on Sunday.Nato said its warplanes hit a military storage facility containing tanks, armoured personnel carriers and ammunition in Tripoli's eastern outskirts early on Sunday.
Col Gaddafi has refused to step down. In a speech on Saturday, he described the rebels as traitors and rejected suggestions that he was about to leave the country.Col Gaddafi has refused to step down. In a speech on Saturday, he described the rebels as traitors and rejected suggestions that he was about to leave the country.