March 10: An Army siege is preventing supplies of food and medicine from reaching insurgents in the western Libyan city of Zawiyah, where residents braced for more street-to-street fighting on Thursday. Nato and the European Union were considering imposing a “no-fly” zone to stop forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi using warplanes and helicopters against the insurgents, who have seized some cities east and west of the capital Tripoli.
One fighter said rebels had retaken the heart of Zawiyah, the closest city — 50 km west — to Mr Gaddafi’s main stronghold Tripoli, from the Army overnight. The centre appeared to change hands twice during the day in a hard-fought battle.
“We fought until after three in the morning. It’s all quiet here this morning,” said the insurgent, named Ibrahim, by phone. Mohammed, a Libyan in exile abroad who got through to a relative on the outskirts of Zawiyah on Thursday morning, said it was simply not clear who was winning the battle for the city. “Yesterday they (rebel sympathisers) tried to bring food and medicine from Subratha but they failed. Government troops surround Zawiyah from everywhere,” he said.
“It is unclear who controls the centre. It changes all the time. It’s street to street fighting.” Military analysts believe Mr Gaddafi may focus on quelling the revolt to the west before turning on the east, where the rebel-held city of Misrata, which residents said has been quiet for the past few days, would lie first in their path. “Gaddafi forces are around the outside the city. They suffered a big defeat in Misrata. But they have heavy weapons,” said an insurgent. “We are ready to defend any attack they launch even if we know it’s going to be at a heavy price.”