testament

to the rebels' growing momentum.

A rebel television broadcast called on the people of Tripoli to be ready for their arrival. However, a rebel commander said his fighters had

retreat

ed in the eastern town of Brega.

Israel has expressed regret over the deaths on Thursday of five Egyptian policemen in a cross-border pursuit by Israeli forces of Palestinian militants. It said the Israeli army would conduct inquiries followed by a joint investigation with the Egyptian army to determine what went wrong. Street protests against Israel have taken place in Cairo and Alexandria. Yolande Knell reports.

In his statement, Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak doesn't confirm that Israeli forces killed the five Egyptian police officers, but he says that Israel regrets their deaths. He adds that a joint inquiry will be held with the Egyptian army following an Israeli military investigation. His comments come after Egypt's state television said earlier that the country was recalling its ambassador to Israel until a full apology and explanation was given. Later, the Egyptian cabinet spokesman told the BBC that this decision was not final.

Israel's rescue service says an Israeli man was killed when rockets were fired from Gaza into the desert city of Beersheba. At least eight people were injured. Earlier, the armed wing of Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it had fired several rockets towards Israel.

World News from the BBC