Libyan rebels were pushed back today from government backed fighters.
March 6, 2011- Security forces that support Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, with the help of warplanes, repelled rebels back from the town of Bin Jawwad today in the efforts to stop the rebels from capturing Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte.
One of the resistance fighters, injured in a battle in Bin Jawwad and fleeing to the city of Ras Lanuf which is under control of the rebels, said forces loyal to Gaddafi had attacked advancing anti-government forces with machine guns and grenades.
In the city of Benghazi which is currently under control of the rebels, a source in the resistance fighter movement said the anti-Gaddafi army had taken captive “some British special forces” who were “safe and in good hands.” Earlier in the day, England’s defense minister had made known that a diplomatic team had been sent to the city.
Resistance fighters had seized the city of Bin Jawwad, 160 km from Sirte, on Saturday but later fell back, which allowed the Libyan army to take control of local homes, setting up snipers that attacked with machine guns and grenades forcing the insurgents to retreat back to Ras Lanuf.
Medical staff at the Ras Lanuf hospital stated that from the battle in Bin Jawwad there were two people killed and 22 wounded. Sources have said there were many more people killed and injured who could not be taken ahold of because of the violent struggles.
