Ajdabiyah, Libya–Muammar Qadhafi's jets bombed Libyan rebels on Monday, aiding a counter-offensive that has pushed insurgents 150km eastwards in a week, as France pressed for a no-fly zone "as fast as possible."
Qadhafi's government, at first reeling from widespread popular uprisings last month, is now confident of success. "We are certain of our victory, whatever the price," state TV said.
Government troops took Brega on Sunday, but the rebels said they had moved back into the oil terminal town during the night and surrounded Qadhafi's troops.
"Some of them (government troops) have been killed and some have been captured. But they are still in Brega. It is still dangerous and there is still fighting but today we will squeeze them hard," said Idriss Kadiki, a rebel fighter.
Behind rebel lines, Libyan planes bombed Ajdabiyah on Monday, the only sizeable town between Brega and the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. From Ajdabiyah there are roads to Benghazi and to Tobruk to the east, which could allow Qadhafi's troops to encircle Benghazi.
There is now a very real possibility that by the time world powers agree on a response to the conflict in Libya, Qadhafi's forces may already have won, analysts said.
France wants a Group of Eight foreign ministers meeting it is hosting later on Monday to reach an agreement so the UN Security Council can move toward sanctioning a no-fly zone.
The Arab League has already backed a no-fly zone satisfying one of three conditions set by NATO for it to police Libyan air space, that of regional support. The other two are proof its help is needed, and a Security Council resolution.
News of humanitarian suffering or atrocities could persuade more powers that help is needed and also spur the Security Council into action. But while Human Rights Watch has reported a wave of arbitrary arrests and disappearances in Tripoli, hard evidence is so far largely lacking.
"Everyone here is puzzled as to how many casualties the international community judges to be enough for them to help. Maybe we should start committing suicide to reach the required number," said rebel spokesman Essam Gheriani in Benghazi.
"It is shameful," he said. "We are hoping today for some development such as a resolution" at the Security Council.
US UNDECIDED
At the United Nations, a diplomat told Reuters the Security Council would hold consultations on a no-fly zone on Monday.
Russia and China, diplomats said, would have difficulty vetoing a no-fly zone when the Arab League had requested it. Envoys said Moscow and Beijing might abstain on the issue.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday banned Qadhafi and his family from Russia and from carrying out financial transactions there.
While Russia has opposed military intervention in Libya, it has not ruled out a no-fly zone as long as it is backed by the Security Council. Moscow has asked for details of the Arab League proposal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
If the Security Council does endorse a no-fly zone, enforcing it will fall largely to the United States, which has remained cautious over direct military intervention and has yet to decide whether to back a no-fly zone.
"That is a decision, a political decision ultimately, that has not been taken," Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told MSNBC television. He added that a no-fly zone was still, however, an option under consideration.
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR REBELS
As the diplomatic wrangling continues, Qadhafi's tanks and planes have proved more than a match for the rag-tag rebel force, especially in the flat desert terrain in between major towns, pushing them back some 150km (95 miles) since the counter-attack began on 6 March.
Rebels say the government assaults follow a pattern: first warplanes attack, striking fear into rebel ranks, then comes a rolling artillery barrage as ground troops move in, some of them landing from the sea.
While advancing east, government forces have also moved to crush pockets of resistance left in the west. Government troops attacked Zuwarah on Monday, a small town 100km (60 miles) west of Tripoli.
"They are coming from the eastern side and also trying to get in from the west and the south. They are one kilometer from the center of town," resident Tarek Abdallah said by telephone.
The only major city held by insurgents outside the east is Misrata, 200km (130 miles) east of the capital. Rebels and residents there say an assault on the city has been held up by a mutiny within the ranks of the besieging government forces.
"The fighting has stopped now. Early on Monday we heard five shells after a fierce night of fighting and now it has stopped," Mohammed, a resident of Misrata, told Reuters by telephone.
"We are not sure why it has stopped. Maybe they got tired or maybe one group won over the other. Things are not clear."
The government strongly denies the reports and it is impossible to verify them, but Qadhafi's troops do appear to have held off attacking Misrata for the last three days.
