Michael Georgy

Pakistan is up in arms over the cross-border air attack by Nato that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, saying it was a deliberate act of aggression.

Rebels to the west and east of Libya’s capital fought forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi for control of oil facilities vital to winning the war.

Rebels have hoisted their flag in a strategic town near Tripoli after the most dramatic advance in months, cutting off important routes.

Rebels who seized the government-held town of Ghazaia describe themselves as "liberators", but there were no cheers when they rolled in.

Rebels have encircled Muammar Gaddafi’s last stronghold in Libya’s Western Mountains region and hope to seize it soon.

Rebels fighting in Libya’s western mountains prepared on Thursday for a new offensive against Muammar Gaddafi’s troops.

Libya’s rebel army has replaced ragtag volunteers with polished officers as it seeks to bolster its image as a credible adversary of Muammar Gaddafi.

Nato air strikes may force Libya to halt fighting by its army in the besieged port of Misrata and let local tribes take over the battle.

The United States has started using armed drones against Muammar Gaddafi’s troops, who battled rebels at close quarters on the streets of Misrata.

Nato may have to intensify attacks on government forces to break the military stalemate in Libya, while the UN pushes to help trapped civilians.

Fighting erupted on the eastern front in Libya’s civil war on Saturday as a Red Cross ship brought medical supplies to the besieged city of Misrata.

Libyan rebels said five fighters were killed when Nato bombed a tank column and a US general said they were unlikely to oust Muammar Gaddafi by force.

Libyan rebels pulled out of the oil town of Ras Lanuf on Wednesday under heavy bombardment from Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

Muammar Gaddafi’s troops reversed the westward charge of Libyan rebels as world powers met in London on Tuesday to plot the country’s future.

Western warplanes bombed Muammar Gaddafi’s armour in eastern Libya on Friday to try to break a battlefield stalemate and help rebels take Ajdabiyah.