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Journalism of Courage
Libyan rebels regrouped in key eastern town of Ajdabiya after being scattered by a NATO friendly fire near oil town of Brega as a top US commander warned that the conflict appeared to be turning into a ‘stalemate’.
General Abdelfatah Yunis,the rebel commander,said in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi that four people two fighters and two medics – were killed in the attack yesterday by the NATO attack. He said 14 people were wounded and another six people were missing.
Al Jazeera quoted him as saying that it was a friendly fire “carried out in error by NATO”.
However,the deputy commander of NATO’s operations in Libya has said he is “not apologising” for two air strikes which “may have led to the deaths” of a “a number of”opposition fighters outside the town of Brega.
Rear Admiral Russell Harding said in a press briefing that the situation on the ground had been “very fluid” when the strikes were launched.
Groups of Libyan rebels and civilians have fled from the eastern town of Ajdabiya after after rebel tanks were hit by an air strike around midday near the key oil town of Brega,80-km west of Ajdabiya,the Arab channel said.
However,media reports said the anti-Gaddafi forces have regrouped in Ajdabiya after being scattered by a NATO friendly fire near oil town of Brega.
In Brussels,NATO said it was trying to confirm the reports and that the situation along the coastal highway where most of the fighting is taking place “is unclear and fluid,with mechanised weapons travelling in all directions.” The alliance also warned that it would strike any forces threatening civilians.
