Rebel fighters make gains in western Libya

[pampango]

Source: Aljazeera

Libyan opposition fighters have made a major advance towards the capital, Tripoli after claiming victory in western Libyan towns against forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi.

An opposition military leader said on Friday that local fighters won control of four towns in the western Nafusa mountain range, where government forces have besieged and randomly shelled rebel-held areas for months. Opposition fighters also pushed government troops from Shakshuk and Qasr al-Haj, two towns near a key road that runs along the mountain range's northern edge, Ibrahim said.

After a brutal siege by pro-Gaddafi forces, Misurata, Libya's third largest city, is now in opposition hands. Opposition fighters there have now pushed halfway to the town of Zlitan after taking control of Zintan.

Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign ministry said that China's ambassador to Qatar recently met with the head of Libya's opposition council, the first known meeting between the two sides. China abstained in the UN Security Council vote authorising NATO military action in Libya.


Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/06/201163182012680622.html

[The Magistrate]

1. This Advance, Sir, Will Stick

[dipsydoodle]

2. And it all happened on Friday ?

How amazing. :sarcasm:

[center rising]

3. The sooner Gaddafi is out, the better

[On the Road]

4. Looks Like a Stalemate on the Surface

but the subtext is all pro-rebels:

Greater isolation for Qaddaffi
Continued destruction of weapons
Continued desertions
Teritorrial gains are all one-sided
Qaddaffi forced to use terrorist methods in Benghazi

It's been simmering and will break at some point. The first Gulf War looked like a stalemate for weeks until the decisive move.