Contradictory information on clashes in Libya

Eyewitnesses and rebels say four towns which Libyan forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi claim to have retaken remain under rebel control. BBC correspondents say that Tobruk and Ras Lanuf remain in rebel hands. Contradictory information on clashes in Libya Anti-Gaddafi forces still control Misrata and Zawiya, residents and rebels said. But both Misrata and Ras Lanuf came under renewed attack on Sunday, and clashes have been reported in the small town of Bin Jawad. In the capital, Tripoli, officials said pre-dawn gunfire there was celebrating pro-Gaddafi "gains" of the towns. BBC says many people there first thought the firing was clashes between pro- and anti-government forces. Ras Lanuf, 160 kilometers east of Sirte, was taken by opposition forces on Saturday. BBC has confirmed that it is still held by the opposition and that there are no pro-Gaddafi forces nearby. However the major oil town has seen over flights by planes loyal to the government, and rebel fighters are trying to target them. About 50 kilometers north-west of Ras Lanuf, clashes were reported in Bin Jawad. Rebels said their forces withdrew after coming under attack when they advanced. Doctors told the French news agency AFP that two people had been killed and about 40 were wounded in the fighting. A local doctor in Misrata, 200 kilometers east of Tripoli, told the BBC that the situation had become "very bad" after pro-Gaddafi forces with tanks and armored cars went into the city centre and opened fire. He said they shot at people whether they were armed or not, and that three people had been killed. Earlier, machinegun and heavy weapons fire could be heard across the capital Tripoli, starting at about 05:45. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim said the gunfire was celebratory because the "government forces have in the last 12 hours crushed rebel groups in Ras Lanuf, Zawiya and Misrata." He said there was no fighting going on in Tripoli. Tripoli has been Gaddafi's main stronghold as he attempts to reassert control over the country from rebels who have taken much of the east of the country as well as some towns closer to Tripoli, in the west. On Saturday, residents of Zawiya, 50 kilometers west of Tripoli, said Gaddafi's troops had fired indiscriminately on civilians as they attempted to capture the town. In their eastern stronghold of Benghazi, rebels formed a 30-member National Libyan Council which claims to now be the country's sole representative. The UN estimates that more than 1,000 people have died in the unrest in Libya, which follows public protests in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt that saw their presidents overthrown. The UN Security Council approved sanctions last week imposing asset freezes and travel bans on Gaddafi and his family and aides. The resolution also referred Gaddafi and his inner circle to the International Criminal Court for investigation of crimes against humanity. But in an interview with a French newspaper published on Sunday, Gaddafi said he would welcome a UN or African Union investigation into the violence in the country. (Beta)

Contradictory information on clashes in Libya

Anti-Gaddafi forces still control Misrata and Zawiya, residents and rebels said.

But both Misrata and Ras Lanuf came under renewed attack on Sunday, and clashes have been reported in the small town of Bin Jawad.

In the capital, Tripoli, officials said pre-dawn gunfire there was celebrating pro-Gaddafi "gains" of the towns.

BBC says many people there first thought the firing was clashes between pro- and anti-government forces.

Ras Lanuf, 160 kilometers east of Sirte, was taken by opposition forces on Saturday.

BBC has confirmed that it is still held by the opposition and that there are no pro-Gaddafi forces nearby.

However the major oil town has seen over flights by planes loyal to the government, and rebel fighters are trying to target them.

About 50 kilometers north-west of Ras Lanuf, clashes were reported in Bin Jawad. Rebels said their forces withdrew after coming under attack when they advanced.

Doctors told the French news agency AFP that two people had been killed and about 40 were wounded in the fighting.

A local doctor in Misrata, 200 kilometers east of Tripoli, told the BBC that the situation had become "very bad" after pro-Gaddafi forces with tanks and armored cars went into the city centre and opened fire.

He said they shot at people whether they were armed or not, and that three people had been killed.

Earlier, machinegun and heavy weapons fire could be heard across the capital Tripoli, starting at about 05:45.

Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim said the gunfire was celebratory because the "government forces have in the last 12 hours crushed rebel groups in Ras Lanuf, Zawiya and Misrata."

He said there was no fighting going on in Tripoli.

Tripoli has been Gaddafi's main stronghold as he attempts to reassert control over the country from rebels who have taken much of the east of the country as well as some towns closer to Tripoli, in the west.

On Saturday, residents of Zawiya, 50 kilometers west of Tripoli, said Gaddafi's troops had fired indiscriminately on civilians as they attempted to capture the town.

In their eastern stronghold of Benghazi, rebels formed a 30-member National Libyan Council which claims to now be the country's sole representative.

The UN estimates that more than 1,000 people have died in the unrest in Libya, which follows public protests in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt that saw their presidents overthrown.

The UN Security Council approved sanctions last week imposing asset freezes and travel bans on Gaddafi and his family and aides. The resolution also referred Gaddafi and his inner circle to the International Criminal Court for investigation of crimes against humanity.

But in an interview with a French newspaper published on Sunday, Gaddafi said he would welcome a UN or African Union investigation into the violence in the country.