Libya’s interim rulers said they had captured one of Muammar Gaddafi’s last strongholds in the Sahara desert, finding a stock of chemical weapons.
Fighters poured into the desert town of Bani Walid on Saturday as Nato aircraft struck at least seven times at Gaddafi loyalist positions.
Libya’s new rulers sent a column of fighters towards Bani Walid overnight, preparing a showdown with supporters of ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Forces of Libya’s interim council are poised for an assault on Bani Walid after negotiators failed to persuade Gaddafi loyalists to surrender.
Ministers gathered in Qatar on Wednesday for talks on Libya’s future, with some eager to step up air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.
An AU plan to halt Libya’s civil war collapsed, and rebels said the bloody siege of the city of Misrata made talk of a ceasefire meaningless.
Muammar Gaddafi has accepted a roadmap for ending the conflict in Libya including an immediate ceasefire, the African Union said on Monday.
Libyan rebels beat off a new assault by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces on the besieged western city of Misrata, losing as many as 30 fighters.
Libya accused Britain of damaging an oil pipeline in an air strike, hours after rebels said government attacks had halted production of oil.
A Libyan envoy has begun a trip to Europe to discuss an end to fighting, but gave no sign of any climbdown in a war that has ground to a stalemate.
Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi shelled a building in Misrata early on Sunday to try to dislodge rebels from their last big stronghold.
Rebels cheered the defection of a Libyan minister as a sign that Muammar Gaddafi’s rule was crumbling, but US officials warned he was far from beaten.
Muammar Gaddafi, orchestrating a populist response to rebels threatening his rule, blamed al-Qaeda on Wednesday for creating turmoil.
US warships will pass through the Suez Canal on Wednesday on their way to Libya as Western nations put more pressure on Moammar Gadaffi.
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi were massed near the Tunisian border on Tuesday, and the US said it was moving warships closer.
Rebels awaited a counter-attack by Moammar Gadaffi’s forces on Monday, after the Libyan leader defied calls for him to quit.
Armed rebels opposed to Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi were in control of Zawiyah, about 50km west of the capital Tripoli.
World powers struggled to find a way to stop Libyan leader Moammer Gadaffi lashing out at his people as he clings to power in Tripoli.
Pope Benedict apologised to victims of sexual abuse on Saturday, saying paedophile priests had committed unspeakable crimes.
Kyrgyzstan on Saturday buried some of those killed in the overthrow of the government, while security concerns prompted the US to halt troop flights.
