Reply #4: Libyan battles rage in western mountains

[tabatha]

Barbara Miller reported this story on Monday, May 9, 2011 12:28:00

BARBARA MILLER: Wounded rebel fighters arrive at a hospital in Tunisia.

They've made the journey over the border from Zintan in Libya's western mountains and they say the situation there is grim.

ZINTAN REBEL (translated): The situation is catastrophic. We're facing armoured battalions with tanks, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns, and we have just simple weapons.

And the health situation is really bad as well. We don't have facilities. We bring all of the injured here. Ten of our friends have died because we couldn't get them to Tunisia overnight.

BARBARA MILLER: Some observers are calling the battle in the Nafusa mountains the forgotten frontline.

Human Rights Watch has spoken to several dozen people who say they've fled the area. The organisation says they give consistent and credible reports of indiscriminate attacks on civilians by pro-Gaddafi forces.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3211508.htm