Ground assault on Libyan rebels

Libyan rebels have denied claims that pro-Gaddafi forces have taken Ajdabiya – the last town before their headquarters in Benghazi.

The BBC’s Jon Leyne in Benghazi says that, after heavy bombardment, government soldiers have made their first ground assault on the town.

The advance by troops loyal to Libya’s leader comes ahead of the UN Security Council discussing a no-fly zone.

The UK, France and Lebanon have called for this in a draft resolution.

Rebel leaders want the international community to prevent pro-Gaddafi forces from using aircraft against them.

However, countries such as the US, Russia, China and Germany are understood to harbour doubts about imposing a no-fly zone. Some are wary of foreign military intervention in the conflict.

The Arab League has backed the idea but a meeting of G8 foreign ministers in Paris failed to do so.

Col Muammar Gaddafi’s allies say they are now in control of Ajdabiya but rebel leaders say the assault was repelled.

Ajdabiya is 160km (100 miles) from Benghazi and also controls the road to the Egyptian border.

Our correspondent says the situation in Benghazi is getting more tense by the hour and the calls for a no-fly zone more desperate.

Jalal al-Gallal of the National Libyan Transitional Council said that there would be a “massacre” if the international community did not intervene.

“He will kill civilians, he will kill dreams, he will destroy us more and more,” he told the BBC.

On Tuesday, there was fierce fighting around Brega. The oil town has changed hands several times over recent days and reports have suggested the rebels have lost control.

In the west, government forces appear to have retaken Zuwara and were shelling Misrata city.

Meanwhile, in a TV speech, Col Gaddafi taunted the UK and France

“Britain no longer exists. It is a trace of what it used to be. It has been promoting attack on Libya. Is there a common border between us? Are you our guardian? By what right?” he said.

He went on to “dare” the US, Britain and France to “give their people freedom like I did to the Libyan people”.

Our correspondent says the defiant speech was projected upside down onto a big screen in the main square of Benghazi.

He says people threw shoes at the screen in a traditional expression of their contempt for Col Gaddafi.