Rebel leader sends SoS to West,says Gaddafi’s jets cleansing Libyans

After capturing Zawiyah and Ras Lanuf,Gaddafi loyalists advance towards other rebel-held areas.

“The Libyans are being cleansed by Gaddafi,” the leader of the war-torn country’s National Council has said in an SoS to the West asking for a flight and naval blockade to be imposed on the nation,as the loyalists advancing under the cover of blazing fire from jets,tanks and artillery threw the rebels into a frantic retreat.

“We are outgunned and are facing cleansing from Gaddafi’s forces,” Mustafa Abdul Jalil,the head of the rebel council in Libya told BBC as Gaddafi’s forces stormed and captured two major towns of Zawiyah in the West and Ras Lanuf in the East after bloody battles.

Gaddafi’s loyalists were also advancing in a wide arc towards other rebel-held areas in a counter-offensive that has reversed the opposition’s advance towards the capital,Tripoli,al Jazeera reported.

“We asked for a no-fly zone to be imposed from day one. We ask the international community to shoulder their responsibilities.

“We also want a sea embargo and we urgently need some arms and we also need humanitarian assistance and medicines to be sent to the cities besieged by the Gaddafi’s troops,” Jalil told BBC from his headquarters in the eastern Libya.

Commending France for its decision to recognise the National Council,the Libyan opposition leader asked other nations to follow their lead.

“The most effective recognition would be from United States,the UK and Germany,but we also need support of all countries,” he said.

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The Libyan opposition leaders clamour for help from western countries came as Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam claimed victory was in sight and that his forces were poised to uproot the rebels from all areas.

“We’re coming,” Gaddafi’s son declared and referred to people in the eastern part of the country as being held “hostage by the traitors”.

The rebels,al Jazeera reported were almost in a rout. The channel said hundreds of rebels and cars and trucks mounted with machine guns were speeding eastwards on the Mediterranean coastal road in a seemingly disorganised flight from Ras Lanuf.

al Jazeera quoting medics said 400 people have died and 2,000 more wounded in eastern Libya since February 17.

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The United Nations has said that more than 250,000 have now fled the fighting since the revolt against Gaddafi started.

But the rebel chief in his interview insisted that the anti-regime forces were not disintegrating and remain strong.

“Everybody should know that there is no balance between our capabilities and Gaddafi’s,” he said.

A dismal picture of the rebel fighters was also painted by top American intelligence official James Clapper,who created a stir by saying that Gaddafi’s forces would prevail.

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With his forces on full blast go,Gaddafi’s government has warned Tripoli residence and imams of the mosques not to allow any protest after Friday prayers.