NATO 'taking action' to protect Libyans

BRUSSELS: NATO said Sunday it was taking ‘necessary action’ to protect civilians west of Tripoli because they were under threat of attacks for openly challenging the regime.

"NATO is monitoring the situation closely and is taking necessary action to protect civilians," a statement said.

The regime of Moamer Kadhafi on Sunday said its forces had eliminated rebel "pockets of resistance" at Zawiyah, west of the capital. "Along the northwest coast of Libya, between Tripoli and the Tunisian border, Libyans long tired of Kadhafi rule are challenging his legitimacy openly, and in doing so, are under threat of attack," the NATO statement said.

"Earlier today, east of Tripoli, an armoured vehicle with anti-aircraft guns was struck as it moved to threaten civilians, other targets struck in the area included a multiple rocket launcher and an anti-aircraft weapon system," it added.

Libyan government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim told reporters Sunday that Kadhafi's forces had "total control" of the area from Ajdabiya in the east to the Tunisian border in the west. He denied reports that the rebels were gaining ground, while at the same time acknowledging clashes at Zawiyah but playing down their intensity.

"It is pockets of resistance. The rebels there are no more than a hundred. The army has killed some of them, captured others and is negotiating the surrender of others," Ibrahim said.

He also said the regime had not "declared victory" at Misrata and Zintan in the west, two rebel-controlled areas and the scene of fierce fighting since the Libyan rebellion erupted in mid-February. (AFP)