Gaddafi troops force back rebels

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.

Meanwhile Libyan Interior Minister Nassr al-Mabrouk Abdullah flew into Egypt on his private plane with nine family members in what could be a high-level defection.