Libyan rebels captured today the city of Al Gazaya, near the Libyan-Tunisian border, southwest of Tripoli, an AFP correspondent reported.
The fiercest clashes took place in the eastern part of the city of Al Gazai, which the rebels attacked early this morning simultaneously from the western and eastern sides.
The rebels had previously shelled the city with artillery from the surrounding hills and entered it when the forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi left it.
Gaddafi's forces have been shelling Nalut, a rebel-held town 230 kilometers west of the Libyan capital, from Al Gazaja.
In that mountainous area, clashes between Gaddafi's army and the rebels have been taking place for several months, and since the beginning of July, they have launched an offensive towards Tripoli.
For its part, NATO exerts strong pressure on Gaddafi's forces with a dozen airstrikes every day.
Yesterday, the rebel offered Gaddafi to hand over power and stay in the country, but he did not accept it by the deadline they gave him.
Gaddafi again last night sent an audio message to his supporters in Zalten, 120 kilometers west of Tripoli.
"We are not afraid. We oppose them. We will pay the price with our lives, our women and our children. We are ready to sacrifice ourselves to destroy the enemy," Gaddafi said last night.
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