Libyan Rebels: Fighters Sieze Strategic Towns, Ex-PM Defects to Opposition

Local Editor

Libyan rebels kept up their fight, saying they had captured strategic towns. Meanwhile, a former prime minister defected from embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and fled to a rebel-held town. Rebels claim they had seized towns of Zawiyah and Zliten. They have been seeking to sever Tripoli's supply lines from Tunisia to the west and to Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte in the east in a move they hope will cut off the capital, prompt defections and spark an uprising inside Tripoli. "Zawiyah is free," rebels said Friday as they took up positions in its hospital hours after pounding the centre of this oil refinery town, the last major barrier as they try to advance on Tripoli from the west. The key refinery is the only source of fuel to the capital, and could leave it without critical supplies. Hundreds of rebels armed with assault rifles had marched from the central square, a stronghold of forces loyal to Gaddafi, to the hospital decorated with portraits of the veteran leader, an AFP journalist said. Gaddafi snipers were staked out on rooftops as the battles raged, with buildings and streets in the town centre showing signs of massive damage from the warfare. Fighters also said they seized Zliten, hours after saying they were in the town's centre, 150 kilometers east of Tripoli. "Zliten is now under the control of our fighters, but the fighting is not finished," the Information Centre for Misrata Military Council said, adding that 40-50 Gaddafi forces were dead and 12 African mercenaries were captured. FORMER PM DEFECTS TO REBELS Meanwhile, rebel sources said Friday that former Prime Minister Abdessalam Jalloud has fled Tripoli to Zintan, a rebel-held town southwest of the capital. "He has left Tripoli. He has joined the rebels. For security reasons, we can't disclose his exact location for the moment", rebel military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Omar Bani told AFP news agency. "Commander Jalloud has managed to flee Tripoli with his family and arrived Friday in the town of Zintan”, another senior rebel said on condition of anonymity. On Saturday Jalloud was said to be in the rebel headquarters of Benghazi. "He has gone to Benghazi yesterday night (Friday). I don't know who he met there. He left by car," said rebel spokesman Juma Ibrahim speaking in Zintan. Jalloud was a member of the officers who grabbed power with Kadhafi in 1969 and was long considered the regime's second-in-command before being gradually sidelined in 1990s. He served as prime minister from 1972 to 1977.

Source: Agencies

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