Heavy clashes between rebels and forces loyal to Muammar Gadafy broke out today in Libya's Western Mountains as insurgents sought to push towards Tripoli.
Sustained gunfire and volleys of artillery could be heard from the village of Bir Ayad, 15km south of the front line at the town of Bir Ghanam.
Rebels at Bir Ghanam hold the high ground on the outskirts of the town, their closest position to the capital, Tripoli, about 80km away.
Ahmed, a rebel fighter in Bir Ayad, said a convoy of about 15 vehicles from Gadafy's forces tried to approach Bir Ghanam, but the rebels fired at it and the convoy retreated after a about an hour of shooting.
Rebels in the Western Mountains have made progress in recent weeks after repelling assaults by Gadafy's forces. Their next goal is Garyan, a town controls the highway south from Tripoli.
But the rebels have been hampered by divisions, ill-discipline and supply problems.
Away from the battlefield, Gadafy has sought to demonstrate that he enjoys widespread support in the areas he still controls. Libyan state television has broadcast footage of rallies attended by thousands of people in Tripoli and elsewhere.
Rebel leaders received a boost in their campaign to oust Col Gadafy yesterday when they won recognition as the legitimate government of Libya from the United States and other powers.
Western nations said they also planned to increase the military pressure on Col Gadafy's forces to press him to give up power after 41 years at the head of the North African state.
Recognition of the rebels, announced by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton at a meeting in Turkey of the international contact group on Libya, is an important diplomatic step that could unlock billions of dollars in frozen Libyan funds.
The decision came as reports circulated Col Gadafy had sent out emissaries seeking a negotiated end to the conflict, although he remains defiant in public.
In a speech last evening broadcast as thousands of his loyalists rallied in street demonstrations, Col Gadafy rejected international recognition of the rebels.
"Trample on those recognitions, trample on them under your feet," he told his supporters.
"They are worthless." He said he enjoyed the support of millions of Libyans who yearned for death, martyrdom and suicide.
The Istanbul conference attended by more than 30 countries and world bodies also agreed on a road map whereby Col Gadafy should relinquish power and plans for Libya's transition to democracy under the rebel National Transitional Council, or TNC.
"Until an interim authority is in place, the United States will recognise the TNC as the legitimate governing authority for Libya, and we will deal with it on that basis," Ms Clinton said.
The decision to recognise the rebels, who have been waging a five-month military campaign against Col Gadafy, meant the Libyan leader had no option but to stand down, Italian foreig minister Franco Frattini said.
The UN secretary-general's special envoy to Libya, Abdul Elah al-Khatib, will be authorised to present terms for Col Gadafy to leave power, but Britain said military action against Col Gadafy would be stepped up at the same time.
The political package to be offered Col Gadafy will include a ceasefire to halt fighting.
In the rebels' stronghold of Misrata, the head of the local council, Khalefa Zawawi said:
"What happened today at the conference in Turkey was a boost for the National Transitional Council." British foreign secretary William Hague said that at the same time as
Mr al-Khatib pursued a political settlement, "the military pressure on the regime will continue to intensify."
China and Russia, which have taken a softer line towards Col Gadafy, were invited to the contact group meeting for the first time, but decided not to become involved.
Reuters