Rebels flee Ras Lanuf under heavy attack from Libyan forces

Rebel forces retreated from Ras Lanuf,although some reports claimed that they retained control of the residential parts of the town. There was a sustained aerial,artillery and mortar bombardment,Al-Jazeera reported.

8220;There have been a number of casualties. We8217;ve seen trucks going along the highway,but being shelled by Gaddafi forces all the way along. I counted 8230; 50 shells falling,8221; it quoted a witness as saying,adding that 8220;it seems like a major offensive8221;

While many opposition fighters had now left the town,a 8220;hard core8221; was going back to fight,the report said.

Rebels in another eastern city of Benghazi feel the tide 8220;may be reversing8221;,and that there is a 8220;realisation that this is going to be a long,long uprising,8221; it said.

8220;We are outgunned and are facing cleansing from Gaddafi8217;s forces,8221; Mustafa Abdul Jalil,the head of the rebel council in Libya told BBC as Gaddafi8217;s forces stormed and captured Zawiyah in the West and Ras Lanuf in the East after bloody battles.

Just days ago,rebels were boldly promising to march towards Gaddafi8217;s hometown of Surt and Tripoli. But this week they suffered a series of setbacks and a reversal of fortunes in key towns.

Gaddafi8217;s loyalists were also advancing in a wide arc towards other rebel-held areas in a counter-offensive that has reversed the opposition8217;s advance towards his bastion of Tripoli.

8220;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 Gaddafi8217;s troops,8221; Jalil said from his headquarters in the eastern Libya.

Commending France for its decision to recognise his National Council,the Libyan opposition leader asked other nations to follow the lead. 8220;The most effective recognition would be from United States,the UK and Germany,but we also need support of all countries,8221; he said.

The Libyan opposition leaders clamour for help from western countries came as Gaddafi8217;s son Seif al-Islam claimed that victory was in sight and that his forces were poised to uproot the rebels from all areas.

8220;We8217;re coming,8221; Gaddafi8217;s son declared and referred to people in the eastern part of the country as being held 8220;hostage by the traitors8221;.

Al-Jazeera 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.

Quoting medics,it said 400 people have died and 2,000 more wounded in eastern Libya since February 17.

The United Nations has said that more than 250,000 have now fled the fighting since the revolt against Gaddafi started. It says over 1,000 have died in the uprising.

But the rebel chief in his interview to BBC insisted that the anti-regime forces were not disintegrating and remained strong. 8220;Everybody should know that there is no balance between our capabilities and Gaddafi8217;s,8221; 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 Gaddafi8217;s forces would prevail.

Gaddafi8217;s government has warned Tripoli residents and imams of the mosques not to allow any protest after the Friday prayers.

Pro-and anti-government forces were locked in intense fighting for control of several other cities and towns along the coastline to the east of Tripoli,including Bin Jawad.