Libyan Rebels Retake Ajdabiya as Unrest Continues Across Middle East

March 25, 2011

Rebels jubilate after taking the city of Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi, eastern Libya, March 26, 2011

Libyan rebels chanted and fired their automatic rifles into the air after capturing the strategic town of Ajdabiya, which controls key roadways into eastern Libya. The victory marks a serious setback for pro-government forces which had taken the town from the rebels just a week ago.

Coalition warplanes earlier had bombed Gadhafi's military targets in Ajdabiya, destroying several tanks. A rebel spokesman said African mercenaries were killed in the fighting. Al-Arabiya TV showed several dozen African mercenaries, captured by the rebels.

Fighting also continued in the western Libyan town of Misrata, close to Tripoli. Witnesses inside the town told Al-Jazeera TV that pro-Gadhafi forces continued to pound the town with field artillery, while storming houses in search of rebel fighters. The TV also claimed that Mr. Gadhafi's forces were preventing aid ships from resupplying the town by sea.

A Libyan government spokesman reiterated claims that coalition warplanes were killing civilians. Rebel leaders in Benghazi said the claims were unfounded.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday that Libya's air defenses had been undone and that responsibility for the Libyan operation was being transferred from the United States to its NATO allies, who are enforcing the U.N. mandated no-fly zone over Libya and the arms embargo at sea.