Fierce fighting continued Saturday in the Libyan rebel-held town of Zawiyah, 30 miles from the capital Tripoli, with the death toll climbing to 60, Sky News reported.
The offensive on Zawiyah began on Friday night and by Saturday morning pro-Gaddafi forces, using heavy artillery and tanks, broke the rebel defenses and entered the city.
The city with a population of around 300,000 is currently encircled by pro-Gaddafi's forces reportedly waiting for reinforcements.
In Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, Gaddafi forces are believed to have killed at least 27 people after bombing an arms depot.
Inspired by the recent ouster of authoritarian regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, opponents of Gaddafi are demanding an end to his 42-year rule. More than 2,000 people have been killed in clashes that began in the North African country on February 15.
MOSCOW, March 5 (RIA Novosti)
