A helicopter has been shot down in Libya, killing at least 14 of its 23 passengers.

Five loud explosions shook the centre of Libya’s capital Tripoli today as rebels in the western mountains claimed control of the Zawiya oil refinery.

Muammar Gaddafi’s forces pushed rebels back from the centre of the strategic city of Zawiya today in fierce fighting to try to prevent the opposition from consolidating a major advance to within 30 miles of the capital Tripoli.