There's no sign of either the rebel fighters or the local population beginning to flee the area.
If Ras Lanuf falls, it brings the frontline closer to the main opposition-held city of Benghazi.
Meanwhile, foreign journalists allowed by the Libyan government to visit the town of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, report scenes of devastation after pro-Gaddafi forces retook the town in recent fighting. The United States and the European Union have
attempted to
increase diplomatic pressure on Colonel Gaddafi to
step down
. Mr Obama said the US would take a wide range of actions to
make sure
Colonel Gaddafi left power.
Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators have marched in cities across Yemen after Friday prayers, demanding the
removal
of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. At least six people were wounded when security forces fired at protesters in the southern port city of Aden. In the capital Sanaa, where supporters of the government also held a rally, police set up
roadblock
s to
keep the two sides apart
.
The American State Department spokesman PJ Crowley has described the treatment of the US soldier suspected of passing material to the Wikileaks website, Private Bradley Manning, as "ridiculous", "
counterproductive
" and "stupid". Private Manning has been charged with offences including aiding the enemy, and he's being held in solitary confinement in prison. Mr Crowley said however that it was right that Private Manning was being held in jail.