Rebels retreat as Gaddafi’s army shells key town

LIBYAN rebels abandoned another key town yesterday under heavy shelling from advancing government forces, as international backing grew only slowly for a no-fly zone over the country.

Dozens of rebels were seen leaving the coastal town of Brega and heading for Ajdabiya, 80 kilometres away on the road to the main rebel cities of Benghazi and Tobruk.

Rebel sources said forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi were approaching from the west, and Libyan state television, quoting an unspecified military source, later declared Brega “purged of the armed gangs”.