Civilians flee Gaddafi loyalist stronghold Sirte

Hundreds of civilians fled Moammar Gaddafis hometown Monday to escape growing shortages of food and medicine and escalating fears that their homes will be struck during fighting between revolutionary forces and regime loyalists.Anti-Gaddafi fighters launched their offensive against Sirte nearly two weeks ago, but have faced fierce resistance from loyalists holed up inside the city. After a bloody push into Sirte again over the weekend, revolutionary fighters say they have pulled back to plan their assault and allow civilians more time to flee.NATO, which has played a key role in decimating Gaddafis military during the Libyan civil war, has kept up its air campaign since the fall of Tripoli last month. The alliance said Monday its warplanes struck eight military targets near Sirte a day earlier, including an ammunition and vehicle storage facility and rocket launcher.Sirte, 250 miles (400 kilometers) southeast of Tripoli on the Mediterranean coast, is one of the last remaining bastions of Gaddafi loyalists since revolutionary fighters stormed into the capital last month, ending Gaddafis nearly 42-year rule and sending him into hiding. The fugitive leaders supporters also remain in control of the town of Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli, and pockets of territory in the countrys south.But even as fighting continues, Libyans have been working to restore a sense of normalcy in the North African nation of some 6 million people.In a boost to the economy, Italian energy giant Eni said Monday it has resumed oil production in Libya after months of interruption for the civil war, tapping 15 wells and producing some 31,900 barrels of oil per day. French energy company Total said it restarted some production last week.Libyas economic future could hinge on the performance of its lucrative oil and gas sectors, whose production ground to a halt during this years insurgency against Gaddafi.Libya sits atop Africas largest proven reserves of conventional crude, and raked in $40 billion last year from oil and gas exports. Still, experts say it could take about a year or more to get Libya back to its pre-war production of 1.6 million barrels a day.British Trade Minister Stephen Green also visited Tripoli and said his countrys businesses are eager to take part in the rebuilding of Libya and will also assist with British expertise. But he said no strategic decisions would be made in Libya until the country has completed writing a new constitution and an elected government is in place.Libyas new leaders have struggled to form a new interim Cabinet that could guide the country to elections.