TRIPOLI - Libya's government spokesman said on Friday that forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi had killed at least 190 rebels in fighting in the west of the country since Wednesday.Moussa Ibrahim also said that al-Qaida was responsible for the death of rebel military chief Abdel Fattah Younes, whose death on Thursday dealt a blow to the rebels and Western forces seeking to remove Gaddafi.RELATED:Britain recognizes Libyan rebels, frees assetsEarlier, Libyan rebels also said the gunmen who shot dead their military chief were members of an Islamist-linked militia that is allied to their struggle to overthrow Gaddafi, but did not mention that the group was linked to al-Qaida.Meanwhile, the rebels claimed to have taken several towns in a fresh offensive in the west. var zflag_nid='794'; var zflag_cid='1091/988'; var zflag_sid='122'; var zflag_width='300'; var zflag_height='250'; var zflag_sz='9'; Earlier in the week, Britain recognized the Libyan rebel movement as the country's legitimate government and swiftly unblocked 91 million pounds in frozen assets. It also invited the opposition to replace diplomats of Muammar Gaddafi's government in London, who have been expelled.
