LIBYA: Gaddafi forces launch offensive to retake frontline village of al-Qawalish recently seized by rebels

Record ID: 374917

  • Title: LIBYA: Gaddafi forces launch offensive to retake frontline village of al-Qawalish recently seized by rebels
  • Date: 14th July 2011
  • Summary: AL-QAWALISH, LIBYA (JULY 13, 2011) (REUTERS) BALACK SMOKE OVER AL-QAWALISH REBELS MILITARY TRUCKS GOING BACKWARD MILITARY TRUCKS MOVING AROUND VARIOUS OF REBELS MILITARY TRUCK GOING BACKWARD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNNAMED REBEL, SAYING: "There is military movement - reinforcements are on the way - they will be here soon. Say 'God is great boys'." VARIOUS OF REBELS GET
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA97CCTGS38HNJM05SAL6DP31GQ
  • Story Text: Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared to have launched an offensive on Wednesday to retake the frontline village of al-Qawalish seized by rebels last week.
    One rebel fighter said the fighting started after a rebel unit tried to advance to the town of Garyan, which controls access to the main highway leading north into the capital Tripoli, less than 100 km (60 miles) away.
    Another fighter, on the western edge of the city, said the rebels had run out of ammunition so they pulled out.
    "Reinforcements are on the way - they will be here soon," one rebel said.
    A Reuters team in the village heard small arms fire and shelling and could hear explosions from shells landing inside al-Qawalish on its eastern edge.
    Several truckloads of rebel fighters sped west out of the village, with one shouting: "Go, go, it is not safe here!"
  • 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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