Libya Rebels Say They Control Zliten

Libyan rebels said they seized control of Zliten from Moammar Gadhafi's forces on Friday, only hours after reporting they were in the center of the town, 150 kilometers east of Tripoli.

"Zliten is now under the control of our fighters, but the fighting is not finished," the Information Center For Misrata Military Council said.

"At 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) our people informed us they had advanced to the Zliten bridge. They captured a tank and several vehicles that they used against the enemy," the council said.

At midday, the rebels had announced they were inside Zliten's town center, after an offensive that began around 7:30 am (0530 GMT).

"The battle began with an artillery bombardment on the positions of Gadhafi's forces, followed by a swift movement forward by rebels," the rebels said.

"Gadhafi forces have used tanks to try unsuccessfully to repel the rebels. There are dead and injured rebels," they added.

Earlier, the insurgents reported to have pushed forward and seized positions "in the areas of Bazh, Gananat, the Ahamada and around Zliten hotel."

They also said they had advanced "to the south of Zliten" in an area called Sir Leslie, forcing Gadhafi loyalists to pull back.

"Between 40 and 50 Gadhafi forces were killed" in the fighting, while some 12 African mercenaries were captured, the statement said, adding that 40 insurgents were wounded, 10 of them seriously.

"The northern part of the city along the coast is now under our control," the rebels said, adding they had captured Colonel Ali Umran bin Salim, a Gadhafi loyalist and head of domestic intelligence in Zliten.

A number of families from Misrata, caught in Zliten and unable to leave, were freed by the rebels, the statement said. "We are trying to return them to Misrata as soon as we can."

Rebels claimed they seized seven military vehicles, as well as weapons and ammunition.

The rebels, who have been steadily advancing westwards from their enclave in Misrata, have been trying since early August to seize full control of Zliten, a strategic coastal town on the road to Tripoli.