Regime hits back as rebels push on to Gaddafi's heartland

The two jets swooped low and fast, the missiles exploding nearby and forcing those on the road to dive for cover. Artillery shells and mortar rounds landed in salvos as dark plumes of smoke rose from burning buildings in the background. For the rebels of Libya, the road to Sirte was proving to be a violent and perilous journey. Sirte has a highly symbolic as well as strategic significance in this brutal conflict. The city is the birthplace of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, where members of his clan had vowed to fight to the bitter end. The fall of this loyalist stronghold would be seen as a body blow to the regime and provide a huge boost to the morale of the revolution, while, at the same time, opening the way to the capital, Tripoli. After repulsing the regime's attempt to recapture Brega, a major petrochemicals centre, the emboldened opposition militia had seized the oil port of Ras Lanuf and then, within a day, had walked into Bin Jawad, a garrison town with Gaddafi's troops seemingly retreating in disarray and defeat. Source: The independent < Prev   Next >