By DPA,
Tripoli/Cairo: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces and opposition fighters battled for the town of Ajdabiya Friday with neither side ceding ground, as NATO was planning to take over all UN-mandated military operations against the North African country.
The fight for Ajdabiya, in the east near the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, continued Friday with little progress made on either side.
The rebels are also trying to take over Misurata, Libya’s third-largest city, which they believe would serve as a gateway to the capital, Tripoli. But they say that snipers and plain-clothed informants loyal to Gaddafi remained a threat.
The continuing ground battles prompted the African Union to Friday call for a transitional period that would lead to democratic elections in Libya. The AU and African states such as South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe have called for an end to coalition strikes.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance had “taken on the responsibility for the no-fly zone, while the coalition still continues its activities”.
Since March 19, a US-led coalition that includes Britain and France has taken out Libyan air defences and ground forces in order to prevent attacks on civilians.
While military command would strictly remain within NATO, spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said an international conference in London Tuesday would set “the wide political guidance” for action against Libya.
It was clear to Western powers that any plan for Libya’s future would have to offer political solutions as well, and not just military action.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday that he and British Prime Minister David Cameron would present a common plan ahead of the London summit. “It will be a Franco-British initiative to show that the solution cannot be a military one, it has to be a political and diplomatic solution,” he said.
In Benghazi, where the opposition National Council this week chose a transitional government, thousands of Libyans attended Friday prayers. Banners hanging over walls and tents indicated the battle still ahead. One read: “Misurata, we are coming.”
Defying Gaddafi’s forces, the rebels have continued their military training at a camp, called the February 17 Camp, in Benghazi that was set up by the National Council. Young Libyans have come here from various cities to learn how to use weapons.
“We want to sacrifice all we have for Libya. But I have nothing, except my faith. This is why I came here to help my fellow Libyans,” a young man told broadcaster Al Arabiya broadcaster from the camp.
Iman Bughaigis, a spokeswoman for the National Council, described the difficulties faced by rebels who have little combat experience.
“I know they are doing their best, we know the situation is very critical and very hard,” she told Al Jazeera.
She described the situation in Misurata, Ajdabiya and other cities under fire as critical. “People are without water, electricity, food and without ammunition and weapons to defend themselves.”
Libyan officials said 100 people have been killed since the airstrikes began, according to Al Jazeera, but didn’t state how many were civilians and how many from the military.
A funeral was held in Tripoli Thursday for 48 people, mainly civilians that the government said were killed in coalition airstrikes, a witness in Tripoli told DPA.
While Gaddafi’s forces continue to battle for control, his brigades have been severely weakened, with Britain saying earlier this week that his air force no longer existed as a fighting force.