Cairo, Mar 13 : Speeding down the key eastern coastal highway, tanks and artillery guns of Mummar Gaddafi's forces stormed into the city of Brega and are now within
striking distance of the main opposition held city of Benghazi as the western powers were awaiting the nod from Arab League to enforce a no-fly zone over the strife-torn Libya.
Keeping up the momentum of their advance, columns of tanks backed by fighters and gunships entered the city of Brega, which was captured by the rebels just a week back after fierce fighting.
"The rebel forces, who for weeks rapidly advanced on the capital Tripoli in a bid to oust Gaddafi, are loosing steam to the better armed government forces," al-Jazeera
correspondent reported from Brega.
The Arab channel said that Gaddafi's forces were now in a good position to take on Benghazi, Libya's second largest city and the seat of the rebels' National opposition Council, which was recognised by France recently.
There were conflicting reports on Ras Lanuf, the main oil producing town, which saw pitched battle on Friday. After an intense fight, Gaddafi's forces held the town while the rebels occupied the oil terminals.
But in a fresh onslaught this morning, Gaddafi's forces made the rebel fighters to retreat by laying down heavy air and ground firepower.
The fall of the town was confirmed by Libya's former interior minister Gen Abdul Fateh Younis, who has defected to the rebels. But he vowed that his fighters would launch a counter-attack latest by tomorrow.
The near rout of the opposition forces came as Arab League foreign ministers met in Cairo where they are predicted to back a no-fly zone over the country to ramp up pressure on Gaddafi.
Secretary General of Arab League told the channel that he wanted the pan Arab organisation to play a role in imposing a no-fly zone.
A sanction by the Arab League is likely to pave the way for the US and its European allies to go ahead with enforcing the zone, which effectively neutralise Gaddafi's air power.
A UN mission was also due in Libya to evaluate the country's humanitarian needs.
As the sea-saw battle continued in Libya, US President Barack Obama has warned that "the noose" around Libyan ruler was tightening and said the international community had an obligation to prevent a Rawanda-style civilian massacre in the north African nation.
"Across the board, we are slowly tightening the noose on Gaddafi," Obama said at a White House news conference, which was dominated by the Libyan uprising and the Japanese tsunami tragedy.
In his first indication of a US tilt towards Libyan opposition, Obama said he would appoint an envoy to Libyan opposition forces as part of efforts to "change" the balance of the military situation in the war-torn country. PTI
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