Ajdabiya, March 22: Moammar Gaddafi’s forces shelled rebels regrouping outside a strategic eastern city on Tuesday and his snipers and tanks controlled the streets of the last opposition-held city in the west, signaling a prolonged battle ahead. An American fighter jet crashed over North African country, both crew ejecting safely.
The US Africa Command said both crew members were safe after what was believed to be a mechanical failure of the Air Force F-15.
Disorganization among the rebels could hamper their attempts to exploit the air campaign by US and European militaries. Since the uprising began on Feb. 15, the opposition has been made up of disparate groups even as it took control of the entire east of the country.
Regular citizens — residents of the “liberated” areas — took up arms and formed a highly enthusiastic but undisciplined force that in the past weeks has charged ahead to fight Gaddafi forces, only to be beaten back by superior firepower. Regular army units that joined the rebellion have proven stronger, more organized fighters, but only a few units have joined the battles while many have stayed behind as officers struggle to get together often antiquated, limited equipment and form a coordinated force.
The ragtag band of hundreds of fighters who made their way to the outskirts of Ajdabiya on Tuesday milled about, clutching mortars, grenades and assault rifles. Some wore khaki fatigues. One man sported a bright white studded belt.
Some men clambered up power lines in the rolling sand dunes of the desert, squinting and hoping to see Gaddafi’s forces inside the besieged city of 140,000 that is the gateway to the east.
“Gaddafi is killing civilians inside Ajdabiya,” said Khaled Hamid, a rebel who said he been in Gaddafi’s forces but defected to the rebels’ side. “Today we will enter Ajdabiya, God willing.”
Misrata, the last western city held by rebels, was being bombarded by Gaddafi’s forces on Tuesday, his tanks and snipers controlling the streets, according to a doctor there who said civilians were desperately searching for shelter and food.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals if the city falls to Gaddafi’s troops, he accused international forces of failing to protect civilians as promised under the United Nations resolution authorizing military action in Libya.
“Snipers are everywhere in Misrata, shooting anyone who walks by while the world is still watching,” he said. “The situation is going from bad to worse. We can do nothing but wait. Sometimes we depend on one meal per day.”
The air campaign by US and European militaries that began Saturday has unquestionably rearranged the map in Libya and rescued rebels from what had appeared to be imminent defeat.
Monday night, Libyan state TV said a new round of strikes had begun in the capital, Tripoli, marking the third night of bombardment. But while the airstrikes can stop Gaddafi’s troops from attacking rebel cities — in line with the UN mandate to protect civilians — the United States, at least, appeared deeply reluctant to go beyond that toward actively helping the rebel cause to oust the Libyan leader.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and others said the US military’s role will lessen in coming days as other countries take on more missions and the need declines for large-scale offensive action like the barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles fired Saturday and Sunday mainly by US ships and submarines off Libya’s coast.
—-Agencies