By IANS,
Tripoli : Heavy fighting broke out in at least two Libyan towns early Monday when troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi attempted to wrest control from the rebels, a media report said.
Reports of heavy fighting poured in from Ras Lanuf, home to an important oil refinery, and Misurata, where the opposition claimed to have captured some pro-Gaddafi soldiers.
The violence since the unrest began Feb 14 has left – according to one estimate – around 6,000 people dead and forced around 140,000 people to flee the country.
Though the capital city of Tripoli is still in Gaddafi’s control, some parts of the country, particularly towns in the east, have been taken over by the opposition.
DPA reported Sunday that fighting in Misurata left at least 15 people dead and 38 injured. Armed forces and tanks advanced inside the town, and fierce fighting took place inside an iron and steel factory.
Opposition fighters Monday claimed Ras Lanuf still remains in their hands, Al Jazeera reported.
Mohammed Ali, a member of the civil committee for affairs in Misurata, said the pro-democracy activists were in control of the area.
“We have also captured some Gaddafi soldiers, and we will interrogate them. They will be shown on television on Monday,” he was quoted as saying.
“Our armoury is not a lot, but we have moral strength. We also need specific outside help,” he said.
In Brega, opposition fighters were making gains, but pro-Gaddafi forces also made some ground overnight, the report said.
Meanwhile, the situation was calm in Benghazi.
Abu Sadr, an activist in Benghazi, said: “For the time being, government forces are not going to come into Benghazi unless it’s an airforce attack. People here are very relaxed and we know for the time being we are safe from any ground attacks.”
In Italy’s Lampedusa island, at least 10 boats arrived from North Africa overnight carrying nearly 850 immigrants. They are being identified at a holding centre which is overcrowded with over 1,000 immigrants seeking registration.
Coastguard officials said another boat with 100 immigrants was en route to the island.