Libyan rebel fighters launched offensives on two fronts to the south and east of Tripoli today in the biggest push in weeks towards Muammar Gadafy's stronghold in the capital.
In the Western Mountains southwest of Tripoli, hundreds of fighters advanced towards the government-held village of Al-Qawalish, while on the Mediterranean coast east of the capital, rebels pushed westwards from the city of Misrata.
The advances came as reports proliferated that Col Gadafy - under pressure from a five-month uprising against his rule, sanctions and a Nato bombing campaign - was seeking a deal under which he would step down.
His government has denied that any such negotiations are under way, but a senior Libyan official told Reuters today there were signs that a solution to the conflict could be found by the start of August.
Western Mountains rebels travelling in Toyota pick-up trucks arrived at first light to launch their attack on Al-Qawalish. Many had anti-aircraft guns welded onto the truck beds. Several tanks were also brought to the front on lorries.
The rebels began firing rockets and mortars at dawn, cries of "Allahu Akbar!" or "God is greatest!" echoing through groves of olive, almond and fig trees with each outgoing blast.
Col Gadafy's forces responded with intermittent volleys of Grad tactical surface-to-surface rockets. Clouds of black smoke came from the hillsides where the incoming rounds exploded.
The rebels' aim was to push the 10km from the town of Al-Qalaa to Al-Qawalish.
The fighters were pushing south-east, away from the capital, but taking Al-Qawalish is strategically important because beyond it, further to the east, is the larger town of Garyan which controls the main highway north to the capital.
After several hours, the rebels had advanced a couple of kilometres towards Al-Qawalish and Nato warplanes could be heard in the sky. Ambulance workers said they had treated about six people with injuries.
Fighting across Libya has been largely static for weeks.
In the eastern third of the country, rebels are unable to break through to the oil town of Brega. Misrata's rebels made a push towards Tripoli in May, soon after forcing Gadafy's forces out of the centre of the city, but since then they have made only incremental advances.
Reuters