In These New Times

PressTV

17th March, 2011

“They are nowhere near Benghazi,” Reuters quoted spokesman for the February 17th coalition, Essam Gheriani, as saying on Thursday.

He also said Gaddafi’s forces had approached the oil town of Zueitina in eastern Libya.

“They have been surrounded by the revolutionary forces and are being dealt with,” Gheriani emphasized.

The report comes as Gaddafi’s forces heavily bombarded residential areas in Libya’s eastern town of Ajdabiyah on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, at least 30 people, including women, children and elderly men, were killed in Ajdabiyah as a result of clashes between revolutionary forces and troops loyal to Gaddafi around the town.

Meanwhile, residents of opposition-held Benghazi reported air strikes on the outskirts of the city on Thursday.

Rising casualties, threats of hunger and a refugee crisis have exerted extra pressure on foreign governments to act.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss whether to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on all parties in the Libyan conflict to “accept an immediate ceasefire,” and that “those responsible for the continuous use of military force against civilians will be held accountable.”

Libyan anti-government forces, inspired by revolutions that toppled authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, are fighting to unseat Gaddafi after more than 41 years of despotic rule.