Libyan rebels locked in fierce battle

Libyan rebels locked in fierce battle
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Summary Libyan rebels were locked in fierce fighting on Sunday with forces loyal to Kadhafi.

They are trying to take full control of the west of the country.Rebel fighters told an AFP correspondent accompanying them that they had been ambushed by loyalists in the town of Ragdalin, southwest of Zuwarah, triggering a battle.The people in Ragdalin told us we could enter in peace and then they began shooting at us, said Alla Mansuri, 27.There were about 50 of us, we went in peacefully but it was a trap, said Nabil Bukra, 25, adding that they came under fire with heavy machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades.The fighting was still going on several hours later, with the loyalists also using mortars and sniper fire against the rebel artillery and machine-guns.A medical aide said at least one fighter was killed and four were wounded.Rebels who took cover in the mosque along with a dozen civilians called on the loyalists to surrender, but most were finally forced to retreat and await reinforcements and ammunition.The rebels have over the past week seized the Ras Jdir border crossing with Tunisia and several towns from where Kadhafi fighters were bombarding rebel-held Zuwarah.
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