Fighting has today broken out between rival Libyan militias near a former major military camp of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

A gun battle erupted today between hundreds of revolutionary forces and Muammar Gaddafi supporters in the capital for the first time in more than two months.

Loyalists of Muammar Gaddafi killed at least 17 detainees and arbitrarily executed dozens of civilians as rebels moved into Tripoli, a human rights group said today.

Pro-Gaddafi guards have raped child detainees, and Libyan rebels are abusing children and holding migrant workers as prisoners, according to Amnesty International.

Libyans hunting Muammar Gaddafi have offered a $2m (€1.3m) bounty on the fallen dictator’s head and amnesty for anyone who kills or captures him as rebels battled to clear the last pockets of resistance from the capital Tripoli.

The trappings of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime crumbled tonight as hundreds of Libyan rebels overran a major military base defending the capital and raced to the outskirts of Tripoli with virtually no resistance.

Libyan rebels today claimed they were less than 20 miles from Muammar Gaddafi's main stronghold of Tripoli, a day after opposition fighters launched their first attack on the capital itself.

Explosions and heavy gunfire were reported in the Libyan capital Tripoli as rebel forces claimed they had launched an offensive against Muammar Gaddafi's forces in coordination with Nato.

Rebels are closing in on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, pushing back his fighters in a fierce battle in one key coastal city and seizing another town as they advanced toward his remaining bastion, Tripoli.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces launched a fierce counterattack in a strategic western city today, firing rockets, mortar shells and anti-aircraft guns in a bid to keep the rebels from gaining complete control and advancing towards Tripoli.

At least seven loud blasts were heard in Tripoli early today as bombs fell in the vicinity of Muammar Gaddafi’s main compound of Bab al-Aziziya.

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.

Heavy clashes broke out today between rebels and loyalists fighting for control of Libya’s only functioning oil refinery in the western city of Zawiya, as the opposition tried to cut off fuel supplies to the regime’s stronghold of Tripoli.

Rebels are fighting for control of the only functioning oil refinery in Libya in the western city of Zawiya.

The United Nations’ special envoy for Libya is meeting representatives of both sides of the conflict.

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.

Libyan rebels have fought their way into the strategic city of Zawiya west of Tripoli on in their most significant advance in months, battling snipers on rooftops and heavy shelling from Muammar Gaddafi’s forces holding the city.

Libyan rebels fought their way into the strategic city of Zawiya west of Tripoli today in their most significant advance in months, battling snipers on rooftops and heavy shelling from Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

Libyan rebel forces have seized control of a major mountain town which is a strategic gateway on the road to the capital, Tripoli, a rebel spokesman said today.

For three days running, the rallies have been carnival-like affairs with bands, horseback riders and even a camel dyed green.

Muammar Gaddafi’s forces pounded rebels near their port-city redoubt in western Libya today.

Libyan rebels battled their way back into a major oil port just 30 miles (50km) west of Tripoli today, forcing Muammar Gaddafi’s troops to close the vital coast highway and key supply route from Tunisia.

Nato widened its campaign to weaken Muammar Gaddafi’s regime with airstrikes on desert command centres and sea patrols to intercept ships, the military alliance said, amid signs of growing public anger over fuel shortages in government-held territory.

Nato airstrikes hit two government buildings in the Libyan capital Tripoli today.

Libyan rebels clinched their hold on the east of the country and seized back a key city today after decisive international airstrikes sent Muammar Gaddafi’s forces into retreat, shedding their uniforms and ammunition as they fled.

Muammar Gaddafi today said the UN resolution authorising international military intervention in Libya was “invalid”.

Four New York Times journalists, including a Briton, have been reported missing while covering the fighting in Libya.

Libyan government troops attacked a town west of Tripoli today expanding the campaign to clear rebels from the western front around the capital.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi tightened his grip on the coastal road linking his territory to the rebel-controlled east today, pushing forward the front line in Libya's gruelling internal conflict.

Arab foreign ministers were meeting in Egypt today to discuss a no-fly zone over Libya as Col Gaddafi’s regime showed growing confidence after retaking a strategic town near Tripoli following days of relentless shelling against protesters-turned-rebels.

Hundreds of rebel fighters have retreated from the strategic oil port of Ras Lanouf as Muammar Gaddafi’s army pounds the town with artillery.

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi destroyed an oil pipeline and storage plant today as they pounded rebels with artillery and gunfire in at least two major cities.

THE closest rebel-held city to the Libyan capital has fallen to Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

The closest rebel-held city to the Libyan capital has fallen to Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

Libyan planes attacked rebels in the oil port of Ras Lanouf today to prevent them from advancing towards the capital Tripoli.

Libyan warplanes have launched two new air strikes near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counter-offensive to stop the opposition advancing towards the capital, Tripoli.

Libyan warplanes have launched multiple air strikes on opposition fighters regrouping at an oil port on the Mediterranean coast.

Libyan helicopter gunships fired on a rebel force advancing west toward the capital along the Mediterranean coastline today and forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi fought intense ground battles with the rival fighters.

Libyan war planes today launched airstrikes and troops engaged in heavy ground battles with a rebel force advancing west toward the capital Tripoli along the country’s Mediterranean coastline.

Muammar Gaddafi loyalists swept into the opposition-held city closest to Tripoli today, tightening security around the regime-held capital. To the east, rebel forces captured a key oil port as the country veered toward civil war.

Muammar Gaddafi loyalists swept into the opposition-held city closest to Tripoli today, tightening security around the regime-held capital. To the east, rebel forces captured a key oil port as the country veered toward civil war.

Muammar Gaddafi’s forces today broke through rebel lines at an opposition-held city in a dawn attack that could prove crucial to the regime’s defence of the Libyan capital.