LIBYAN rebels fled in headlong retreat from the superior arms and tactics of Muammar Gaddafi’s troops yesterday, exposing the insurgents’ weakness without Western air strikes to tip the scales in their favour.

MUAMMAR Gaddafi’s better armed and organised troops yesterday reversed the westward charge of rebels and world powers meeting in London piled pressure on the Libyan leader to end his 41-year rule.

LIBYAN rebels pushed further west last night to retake more territory abandoned by Muammar Gaddafi’s retreating forces, which have been weakened by Western air strikes.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI’S forces attacked two west Libyan towns yesterday, killing dozens, while rebels were pinned down in the east and NATO tried to resolve a dispute over who should lead the Western air campaign.

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said a UN resolution authorising military action in Libya resembled “medieval calls for crusades” after Western forces launched a second wave of air strikes.

LIBYAN troops pushed forward toward the insurgent stronghold of Benghazi yesterday and launched air raids on its outskirts as Washington raised the possibility of air strikes to stop Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

ANYONE who has followed the revolutions across North Africa will find the barely-concealed menace in the statement from Saif al-Islam, one of Muammar Gaddafi’s sons, that “everything will be over in 48 hours”, more than a little chilling.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI’S forces bombarded Libya’s third largest city with artillery fire and advanced on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi as diplomatic steps to prevent him quelling a revolt ran aground.

BY the time the outside world agrees on a response to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s bloody onslaught against a popular revolt, it could all be over.

AID for the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation in Libya is to be increased substantially, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said.