Gaddafi's forces regain control of Misrata

[oberliner]

TONY JONES, PRESENTER: Despite continued coalition air strikes, forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi have regained control of Misrata, Libya's third largest city. The offensive has trapped thousands of Egyptian and sub-Saharan African workers who are trying to flee the fighting.

Meanwhile, NATO members are meeting in an attempt to resolve the problem of who will ultimately be in charge of the military operations against Libya.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3173188.htm

[David__77]

1. I'm sure the situation is less than clear.

All this focus on "control" of territory seems like it's a little errant strategically. There are many areas where there is little authority at all. That said, I would not be surprised if the Tripoli authorities continue to consolidate their authority in western and central Libya.

[pampango]

2. AJ reports Misurata remains the "the last opposition hold-out in the west."

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/03/20113242425700917.html

Undaunted by air strikes, pro-Gaddafi forces pressed ahead with their assaults on the towns of Misurata, Ajdabiya and Zintan. Gaddafi's tanks rolled back into Misurata under the cover of darkness and began shelling the area near the main hospital, residents and opposition fighters said, resuming their attack after their guns were silenced on Wednesday by Western air raids. The city, around 200km east of Tripoli and home to a major oil refinery, remains of the the last opposition hold-outs in the west.

Government snipers in the coastal city, Libya's third largest, carried on firing indiscriminately, residents said. An opposition spokesman said the snipers had killed 16 people. "Government tanks are closing in on Misurata hospital and shelling the area," a doctor in Misurata told Reuters on the phone before the line was cut off.

But a resident in Zintan, 106km southwest of Tripoli, said Gaddafi's forces were bringing up more troops and tanks to bombard the opposition-held town. Pro-democracy fighters had pushed Gaddafi's troops out of the town on Tuesday after enduring heavy shelling the day before, said Gaetan Vannay, a Swiss journalist observing events there. Rebels managed to capture four tanks during their attack, he said.

Meanwhile in the east, opposition fighters were pinned down outside the strategic junction at Ajdabiya after more than three days of trying to recapture the city.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. It seems that's the pro-Gaddafi claim; the rebels disagree about 'control'

We've had another night of the wave of air strikes by international forces. We are so grateful and we are so relieved by those strikes.

They are drying up Gaddafi's military resources around the city.
...
Our major problem in Misrata is with the snipers. Gaddafi's forces have occupied the main street in Misrata which stretches from the town centre all the way to the highway and beyond.

This is where the major action is. There are snipers all along the rooftops of that street. They are firing indiscriminately into the main street and the back streets. They want to strike fear into the people of Misrata. They are wreaking havoc in Misrata and taking the lives of innocent people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12850157