THE GUARDIAN: Soldiers loyal to Muammar Gaddafi reach heart of strategic town of Ajdabiya, 90 miles from city at centre of revolution
Muammar Gaddafi's forces continued to fight their way toward Benghazi, the city at the heart of Libya's revolution, as five African leaders arrived in Tripoli in an attempt to broker a ceasefire and political settlement.
Rebel defences around Ajdabiya appeared to be failing as Gaddafi's soldiers broke into the heart of the strategic town, 90 miles from Benghazi, and engaged in running street battles after again outmanoeuvring the revolutionaries.
Although western powers continued their air strikes, the strikes did not appear to deter Gaddafi's forces.
Rebels said government forces shot down a Russian-made helicopter sent to the fight by revolutionaries only two days before. Nato forced a rebel MIG jet to land because of the UN-imposed no-fly zone.
Shelling around the southern entrance to Ajdabiya continued , with loud explosions heard and thick black smoke rising over parts of the town.
Much of Ajdabiya was deserted after civilians fled amid the prospect of Gaddafi's troops taking the town for the second time in as many weeks. » | Chris McGreal in Ajdabiya | Sunday, April 10, 2011
