Muammar Gaddafi's jets bombed Libyan rebels on Monday, aiding a counter-offensive that has pushed insurgents 100 miles (160 km) eastwards in a week, as France pressed for a no-fly zone "as fast as possible". Gaddafi's government, at first reeling from widespread popular uprisings last month, is now confident of success. "We are certain of our victory, whatever the price," state TV said.
Government troops took Brega on Sunday, but the rebels said they had moved back into the important eastern oil terminal town during the night and surrounded Gaddafi's forces. "Some of them (government troops) have been killed and some have been captured. But they are still in Brega. It is still dangerous and there is still fighting but today we will squeeze them hard," said Idriss Kadiki, a rebel fighter.
Libyan planes bombed Ajdabiyah, behind rebel lines, the only sizeable town between Brega and the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. From Ajdabiyah there are roads to Benghazi and to Tobruk, which could allow Gaddafi's troops to encircle Benghazi.
There is now a very real possibility that by the time world powers agree on a response to the conflict in Libya, Gaddafi's forces may already have won, analysts said. France is pushing G8 foreign ministers meeting in Paris to agree action on Libya, and back its efforts to speed up a UN Security Council decision on imposing a no-fly zone.
France hopes an Arab League request to the council to impose a no-fly zone would persuade reluctant members to support it. "Now that there is this Arab League statement, we do hope that it's a game changer for the other members of the council," French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud said
Arab League backing satisfies one of three conditions set by Nato for it to police Libyan air space, that of regional support. The other two are proof its help is needed, and a Security Council resolution. News of humanitarian suffering or atrocities could persuade more powers that help is needed and also spur Security Council action. But while Human Rights Watch has reported a wave of arbitrary arrests and disappearances in Tripoli, hard evidence is so far largely lacking.
"Everyone here is puzzled as to how many casualties the international community judges to be enough for them to help. Maybe we should start committing suicide to reach the required number," said rebel spokesman Essam Gheriani in Benghazi. "It is shameful," he said. "We are hoping today for some development such as a resolution" at the Security Council.
SECURITY COUNCIL SPLIT OVER LIBYA NO-FLY ZONE The UN Security Council on Monday wrangled over calls from Britain and France for a Libya no-fly zone with Russia insisting "fundamental questions" remain over the proposal. European and Arab envoys emphasised the need for urgent UN action against Moamer Kadhafi's offensive on opposition forces which gains new ground every day.
Because of the split between the international powers, however, the Security Council will need several days to agree new action, diplomats said. The Security Council held negotiations on an exclusion zone as the topic also dominated talks between foreign ministers from the Group of Eight nations in Paris.
Britain and France are drawing up a draft no-fly zone resolution and their efforts have been boosted by Arab League support. Russia and China are leading opposition while the United States, Germany and others have doubts. Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said crucial questions over how the zone would be run and who would be responsible have not been answered by the proposal's supporters.
"As far as we are concerned there are some fundamental questions that need to be answered," Churkin told reporters as he left the Security Council talks. "If there is a no-fly zone, who is going to implement the no-fly zone? How (is) the no-fly zone is going to be implemented?" he asked.
"We have not had enough information. To say 'we need to act quickly,' 'as fast as possible' but not to provide the fundamental answers to those fundamental questions, to us is not really helping. It is just beating the air." Churkin added that Russia was "open-minded" about no-fly zones and other proposals to end the violence in Libya.
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR REBELS As the diplomatic wrangling continues, Gaddafi's tanks and planes have proved more than a match for the rag-tag rebel force, especially in the flat desert terrain in between major towns, pushing them back some 150 km (95 miles) since the counter-attack began on March 6.
Rebels say the government assaults follow a pattern: first warplanes attack, striking fear into rebel ranks, then comes a rolling artillery barrage as ground troops move in, some of them landing from the sea. While advancing east, government forces have also moved to crush pockets of resistance left in the west. Government troops attacked Zuwarah on Monday, a small town 100 km (60 miles) west of Tripoli. Four people were killed.
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