LIBYA: Burnt cars litter streets of Ajdabiyah following NATO strike

Record ID: 741298

  • Title: LIBYA: Burnt cars litter streets of Ajdabiyah following NATO strike
  • Date: 11th April 2011
  • Summary: AJDABIYAH, LIBYA (APRIL 11, 2011) (REUTERS) BURNT MILITARY VEHICLE IN MIDDLE OF STREET MORE OF BURNT VEHICLE PEOPLE LOOKING AT BURNT VEHICLE MORE OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT BURNT VEHICLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISAM MOHAMMED, RESIDENT, SAYING: "Maybe it takes time to leave. He's very strong, you know what I mean. He's very strong." BULLETS ON GROUND CAR DRIVING PAST BULLETS REBELS ON SIDE OF THE ROAD MORE OF REBELS ON SIDE OF THE ROAD/ BURNT MILITARY VEHICLES REBEL PICK-UP WITH LIBYAN FLAG DRIVING PAST REBELS HEADING WEST TOWARDS BREGA TO REGROUP
  • Embargoed: 26th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: War / Fighting
  • Reuters ID: LVACDQTYDT7JU9HEOQTR311J0MR3
  • Story Text: Burnt out military vehicles littered the streets of Ajdabiyah on Monday (April 11) one day after intense air strikes by NATO.
    Ajdabiyah was the scene of intense fighting between rebels and forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during the week-end.
    On Sunday (April 10), NATO launched air strikes outside Ajdabiyah, helping break the biggest assault by Gaddafi's forces on the eastern front for at least a week.
    Ajdabiyah residents came out to survey the aftermath. Many are sceptical that these strikes will force Gaddafi to back down.
    "Maybe it takes time to leave. He's very strong, you know what I mean. He's very strong," said resident Isam Mohammed who was looking at a burnt military vehicle in the middle of the street.
    Ajdabiyah is the gateway to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, 150 km (90 miles) north up the Mediterranean coast.
    The government attack, which began on Saturday (April 9), included a fierce artillery and rocket bombardment, while some of Gaddafi's forces, including snipers, penetrated Ajdabiyah.
    But by afternoon rebels looked back in control of Ajdabiyah, commanding key intersections, and fighting had died down.
    Ajdabiyah had been the launch point for insurgents during a week-long fight for the oil port of Brega, 70 km (45 miles) further west, and its fall would be a serious loss.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register