Libya rebels seize village from pro-Gaddafi forces
By REUTERS
LAST UPDATED: 07/06/2011 17:08
Rebel fighters take control of Al-Qawalish following six-hour battle; evidence of fast withdrawal by forces loyal to Libyan leader.
Rebel fighters take up positionsin Ajdabiyah. Photo: REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
AL-QAWALISH
- Libyan rebel fighters took control of the village of Al-Qawalish,
south-east of Tripoli, on Wednesday after a six-hour battle with
government forces, a Reuters reporter in the village said.
Scores
of rebel fighters poured into the village through an abandoned
government checkpoint, firing their rifles into the air in celebration
and shouting "Allahu Akbar!"
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There was evidence of a hurried
withdrawal by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Near the
checkpoint there were collapsed tents, half-eaten bread as well as a van
and an electricity transformer station which were both on fire, the
reporter said.
Gaddafi
is still holding on to power, five months into a rebellion against his
41-year rule and despite a NATO bombing campaign and an International
Criminal Court arrest warrant for crimes against humanity.
"As a
peaceful solution, we offered that he can resign and order his soldiers
to withdraw from their barracks and positions, and then he can decide
either to stay in Libya or abroad," rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil
told Reuters in an interview.