Rebels, Gaddafi Forces Battle Over Libyan Oil Port

The Huffington Post
Rebels, Gaddafi Forces Battle Over Libyan Oil Port
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi battled government opponents for control of a key oil installation and airstrip on the Mediterranean coast in a counteroffensive Wednesday against the rebel-held eastern half of the country. The fighting at the Brega oil port appeared to be the first significant attempt by Gadhafi's regime to push back against the large swath of territory seized by the opposition - almost the entire eastern half of the country. For the past week, pro-Gadhafi forces have been focusing on securing his stronghold in the capital Tripoli and trying to take back nearby rebel-held cities in the west, with only mixed success. In the capital, Gadhafi vowed, "We will fight until the last man and woman" and he warned that thousands of Libyans will die if U.S. and NATO forces intervene in the conflict