21 March 2011
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi that had pulled back from Benghazi after Western air strikes overnight fought back a rebel advance on Monday.
Kadhafi’s defence ministry accused coalition forces and rebels of violating a new ceasefire declared late Sunday.
Libyan forces easily beat off a rebel advance on Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi, where they had retreated overnight. Government troops captured Ajdabiya last week, but were stopped from moving north to Benghazi by French aircraft carrying air strikes.
Rebels advanced on Ajdabiya Monday after they heard planes overhead. Since Sunday, when coalition forces said the no-fly zone was in place, rebel forces assume that any aircraft is friendly.
But government troops opened fire, and the rebels quickly retreated north. The lightly-armed rebel force there reportedly has very little defensive capacity.
West of Benghazi, in Misrata, at least 11 people were killed on Monday and dozens more were wounded by government troops, according to a rebel spokesman.
Libya’s defence ministry accused the rebels and international forces of violating a ceasefire declared Sunday evening by the military, according to a source quoted by the JANA news agency.
The army declared a ceasefire, saying it was responding to an African Union call. The US dismissed the announcement, saying the ceasefire had not been violated.
The agency also quoted Libyan officials saying dozens of civilians have been killed by rebels and coalition forces.
Meanwhile, Belgium and Norway joined the coalition forces, with Belgium sending four F-16 jets and Norway sending six. The United Arab Emirates said Monday it would limit its involvement in Libya to humanitarian assistance.
Nato is ready to back up the coalition, according to French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé.
The EU said it would send resources to protect a humanitarian mission in Libya, if requested by the UN. A top US commander said US forces have no intent to support a ground offensive by opposition forces.
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Libya: Army Holds Off Rebels Near Benghazi