LIBYA: Clash causes oil terminal explosion

Record ID: 343939

  • Title: LIBYA: Clash causes oil terminal explosion
  • Date: 23rd March 2011
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 7th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA5G9QS035DA94DMFIBSU4Q5WC5
  • Story Text: Flames and smoke were rising from a storage tank at the Ajdabiyah Zuwaylinah oil terminal on Tuesday (March 22).
    A local man said an explosion took place after forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi clashed with rebels near the oil company.
    "It was around 12:30, Gaddafi forces entered the station and went to the Luxica (phonetic). It is an oil company. The rebels surrounded it and while they were doing that, something hit the tank which led to an explosion," he said.
    Rebels in east Libya outside Ajdabiyah (850 km east of Tripoli) said on Tuesday concerns that heavily armed Gaddafi troops could still overwhelm them were stopping them advancing on the strategic town.
    Rebels at the frontline about 5 km (3 miles) outside the town said three nights of air strikes were helping cripple Gaddafi's heavy armour, but his forces were still a potent threat.
    Al Jazeera television reported clashes in the town between Gaddafi forces and the rebels.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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