Prospects for military overthrow of Gaddafi fade

LIBYAN government forces tried to storm into the besieged city of Misrata as NATO generals acknowledged their air power was not enough to help insurgents remove Muammar Gaddafi by force alone.

Misrata, a lone rebel outpost in the west of the country, has been under siege by Gaddafi’s forces for weeks.

Yesterday insurgents said government troops were advancing into eastern districts and fighting street battles with rebels.

“They tried to advance and enter the city from the eastern side, from an area called Eqseer which is a populated area. The rebels confronted them and clashes are continuing,” said insurgent spokesman Hassan al-Misrati.

The only active front in the war, along the Mediterranean coast around the eastern cities of Brega and Ajdabiyah, has descended into stalemate for a week with both sides making advances and then retreating behind secure lines at night.

The head of US Africa Command, General Carter Ham, said the conflict was entering stalemate and it was very unlikely the rebels would be able to fight their way into Tripoli to overthrow Gaddafi.

Early hopes that Western air cover and attacks on Gaddafi forces would tip the balance in favour of the rebels have evaporated as government troops sheltered their mechanised forces near civilian areas which NATO fears attacking.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu followed a similar line to Ham. “We have always made clear there is no purely military solution to this conflict.

“This is why it is so important to find a political solution and in this there is no stalemate,” she said. Rebels have rejected peace talks with Gaddafi.

Confusion on the battlefield has caused “friendly fire” incidents, increasing anger among the rebels.