Rebel leader killed in Libya

GENERAL Abdel Fatah Younis, leader of Libya's rebel forces, has been killed, according to the National Transition Council.

His death was announced hours after he was arrested by the rebels for questioning on suspicions his family still had ties to Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

The council head, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, did not explain the circumst-ances of his death. Younis was reportedly on his way to discuss military matters with the council when he was shot by assailants.

Sources claimed Younis may have been in contact with the other side all along and his arrest had been ordered by the Council in Benghazi earlier yesterday.

Soldiers in armoured vehicles detained him outside the town of Brega, where rebel troops are involved in heavy fighting with Gaddafi’s soldiers.

Meanwhile, four rebels were killed and 10 injured in fighting that broke out in the western mountains as they sought to expel forces loyal to Gaddafi from towns in the region.