BENGHAZI: Troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi were surrounding the city of Zlitan, just 160 km east of Tripoli, on Saturday, rebels said, after fighting broke out there that could open up the coastal road to the capital.
Sporadic clashes between Qadhafi's forces and the rebels continued in Zlitan, a rebel spokesman said, after the rebels took control of some parts of it.
He said the situation was calmer than on Friday and the toll remained 22 rebels killed.
"Zlitan is still surrounded by Qadhafi troops and they are threatening the residents to surrender
It was not possible to independently verify the rebels' claim. There was no immediate comment from Qadhafi's government.
Zlitan is one of three towns that are largely government controlled between the rebel-held Misrata and the capital. Were it to fall, it could allow the anti-Qadhafi uprising to spread from Misrata, the biggest rebel outpost in western Libya, to Gadhafi's stronghold in Tripoli.
Qaddafi's forces also shelled for the first time the world heritage-listed city of Gadamis, 600 km (370 miles) southwest of Tripoli on the Tunisia and Algerian border, overnight, opening a new front in the five-month civil war.
A Reuters correspondent in Tripoli heard no new NATO bombings on Saturday. Rebels in various flashpoints also said there were no new air strikes.
World powers have given mixed signals on how the war might play out, with Russia trying to mediate reconciliation. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he had offered a "guarantee" to Gadhafi if he left Libya, but received no reply.
COPYRIGHT REUTERS, 2011
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