Misrata, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan rebels said Monday it took control of the area around the oil port of Brega, in the east, after a prolonged struggle with the forces of Muammar Gaddafi.
Brega is encircled, said the spokesman of the rebels, Chamsiddine Abdoulmolah. But its streets are littered with mines, preventing the fighters to control the whole sector.
"The battalion chief (forces Gaddafi) retired in Ras Lanouf" west of Brega said Abdoulmolah. "The major oil installations are still mined and the remaining forces Gaddafi still there. It will be difficult to clean up without damaging the facilities themselves," he added.
More than 30 soldiers in total were killed in clashes and bombings of the weekend.
The Libyan news agency Jana said Monday that 19 soldiers were killed in NATO raids in the area of Brega. The insurgents, 10 fighters have died and 175 were injured Saturday and two others died and 120 were wounded Sunday, said a spokesman for the rebels.
The rebels are moving now to Bicher Oukaïlah and, on the road to Ras Lanouf, added the spokesman who expects to fight in this area during the day or Tuesday.
The government in Tripoli did not mention fighting in the city and it was impossible to independently verify the claims of the rebels.
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Decision-Brega, strategic oil site 750 km east of the capital Tripoli, represent the largest rebel advance in eastern campaign for several weeks.
It could pave the way for an increase to the west after months of stalemate on the eastern front and provide an outlet to sell the production of oil fields under their control, when it resumes.
Brega has changed hands several times since the war began five months ago but the rebels say this time it is a turning point. The NATO air strikes, which targeted vehicles and rocket launchers of the regular army near Brega, contributed to the victory of suspected rebels in the area.
On the Western Front, in the mountains of Jebel Nefoussa southwest of Tripoli, intense exchanges of gunfire took place Sunday in the village of Al Kaoualich, told Reuters an insurgent responsible for a point on-site inspection.
The rebels have made progress in this area in recent times despite the resistance of the troops Gaddafi.
NATO said its bombing near a radar antenna used for military purposes at the airport in Tripoli.
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The slow progress of the insurgents has led to tensions within NATO, some countries advocating for a negotiated a conflict that lasted only a few weeks. The first air strikes of coalition back to March 31.
The NATO countries and the Arab powers members of the Contact Group on Libya agreed Friday National Transitional Council (CNT) set up by the insurgents as the only representative body of the Libyan people.
Twenty countries, including France, Britain and Italy, already saw the CNT as the only representative of the Libyan people.
Russia said Monday that diplomatic recognition was tantamount to taking sides in the conflict.
"Those who proclaim (the recognition of the CNT) begin on the side of a political force in the civil war," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
With Peter Graff Kaoualich Al Yasmine Saleh in Cairo and Omar Fahmy, Steve Gutterman in Moscow and Hamid Ould Ahmed in Algiers, Clement Guillou and Eric Faye for the French service, edited by Gilles Trequesser
Brega has fallen in the rebel hands!
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Originally Posted by The Dude
and also if he is still there he will be stand trial and the case will last years just to count all his crimes against humanity as well as years to debate whether he deserves it or not 
)
