Libyan rebels advance under Western air cover

Rebel fighters in Libya are reported to have pushed some 10 km into areas vacated by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after the troops retreated under heavy pounding by French and other Western forces.

Rebels after advancing from positions some five to 10km from Ajdabiya, however, have come under heavy fire from Gaddafi forces in Ajdabiya, reports said.

Libyan government forces are also reported to have fallen back from the rebel-held city of Benghazi, following air raids by Western forces.

Al Jazeera has reported fierce fighting from an area close to Ajdabiya. The channel also spoke of heavy casualties in the fighting.

Western powers claim the air strikes have almost neutralised Libyan air defences while reports said the air strikes have also wrecked havoc to Libyan tanks and armored vehicles.

US and coalition jets continued to patrol the UN-sanctioned no-fly zone over Libya and are reported to have unleashed a second wave of attacks to clear the path for rebels to push ahead.