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Trung
Supporters of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi celebrated in the streets of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, Sunday after the government said its forces had retaken control of rebel-held cities -- a claim denied by residents of those areas.
The crowd of Gadhafi supporters waved flags, honked car horns and fired guns into the air. Earlier, heavy machine-gun fire had been heard in Tripoli, with government spokesmen telling news agencies it was "celebratory."
Libyan state television reported that forces loyal to Mr. Gadhafi had recaptured the city of Misrata from rebels. The government said it also took back the oil port of Ras Lanuf. But residents and eyewitnesses in both cities denied those claims.
Rebel forces have taken over many areas of the country, including much of the east, while Mr. Gadhafi's government has retained control of Tripoli, in the west.
Rebels had vowed to continue efforts to advance toward Tripoli after turning back pro-Gadhafi forces from Ras Lanuf on Friday.
The rebels were also advancing from the east toward Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte, where pro-Gadhafi forces remain in control. Sirte is about 500 kilometers east of Tripoli. Rebel commanders said government loyalists were reinforcing the town.
Libyan government forces had advanced with tanks Saturday into Zawiyah, the rebel-held town closest to the capital. Western news organizations say there was heavy shelling as the security forces attempted to push into the town. At least seven people were reported dead in the clashes.
Witnesses said a Libyan fighter jet crashed Saturday near Ras Lanuf, although the cause was unclear. News reports say at least one body was seen in the plane's wreckage.
In rebel-held Benghazi, mourners chanted anti-Gadhafi slogans on Saturday at a funeral for some of the victims of an explosion at an arms depot Friday in the eastern city. At least 17 people were reported killed. Rebels said Mr. Gadhafi's forces bombed the facility.
The opposition National Council held its first formal meeting in Benghazi on Saturday. The group is trying to consolidate control of eastern Libya. It is also expected to renew a call for limited international military help against Mr. Gadhafi's forces.
Protests erupted in mid-February against Mr. Gadhafi, with demonstrators calling for an end to his 42-year rule. The Libyan leader has refused demands to step down, at one point saying he expects to die a "martyr" in Libya.
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Thousands Protest at Bahrain Prime Minister’s Office
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators in Bahrain rallied Sunday outside the prime minister's office — their latest push in a weeks-long campaign for political reform.
The protesters chanted slogans against the ruling family. Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa has been in power for 40 years and is the uncle of King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa.
The Shi'ite-led opposition in the small Gulf island nation has been demanding the resignation of the entire government, which is dominated by the al-Khalifa family.
Protesters say they want the Sunni monarchy to transfer powers to an elected government that is representative of the Gulf state's majority Shi'ites.
A government crackdown on opposition protests that began February 14 killed seven demonstrators before the island state's rulers agreed, under pressure from their Western allies, to allow peaceful demonstrations to continue.
Manama's Pearl Square has been the epicenter of the protests.
Thousands Protest at Bahrain Prime Minister’s Office
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators in Bahrain rallied Sunday outside the prime minister's office — their latest push in a weeks-long campaign for political reform.
The protesters chanted slogans against the ruling family. Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa has been in power for 40 years and is the uncle of King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa.
The Shi'ite-led opposition in the small Gulf island nation has been demanding the resignation of the entire government, which is dominated by the al-Khalifa family.
Protesters say they want the Sunni monarchy to transfer powers to an elected government that is representative of the Gulf state's majority Shi'ites.
A government crackdown on opposition protests that began February 14 killed seven demonstrators before the island state's rulers agreed, under pressure from their Western allies, to allow peaceful demonstrations to continue.
Manama's Pearl Square has been the epicenter of the protests.
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