BBC News with David Austin.

Residents of the rebel-held city of Zawiya close to the Libyan capital Tripoli say it’s now quiet after a day of intense fighting with forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi. Residents told the BBC that government tanks which had been shelling buildings in the centre of the city withdrew suddenly for reasons that are unclear. The BBC’s Wyre Davies in Tripoli has been monitoring events in Zawiya.

We know from people phoning into the BBC today from the, from inside the actual town itself that there has been heavy clashes between government forces and anti-government soldiers. So, I think the situation there is fluid. It’s quite clear that the government has made a concerted effort to launch a very big attack against the town because it is trying to consolidate its power here in western Libya, an area where of course it is dominant including the capital Tripoli.

Rebel forces in eastern Libya are pushing further along the Mediterranean coast toward Sirte, a heavily fortified stronghold of Colonel Gaddafi’s supporters. The rebel fighters have now captured Bin Jawad, a small settlement about 150 kilometres from Sirte. One resident of Sirte, Dr Sunita Singh, told the BBC that many foreigners were leaving. She said the sound of artillery fire could be clearly heard.

“It’s the first time that we are hearing artillery fire in the daytime. Usually it used to be at night, sometimes, you know. So that’s a big change, you know. It’s outside of the city, but we can hear it very clearly and I stay right in the middle of the city.”