Rebels battle for control in Libya

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.

The opposition force pushed out of the rebel-held eastern half of Libya late last week for the first time and has been cutting a path west toward Tripoli. On the way, they secured control of two important oil ports at Brega and Ras Lanouf and by today, the rebels were advancing farther west when they were hit by the helicopter fire and confrontations with ground forces.