MISRATA: Libya's tribes on Wednesday urged Moamer Qadhafi to cede power, as rebels backed by NATO air strikes said they forced the strongman's missiles out of range of the lifeline port of Misrata.
Chiefs or representatives of 61 tribes from across the North African country called for an end to Qadhafi's four-decade rule, in a joint statement released by French writer Bernard-Henri Levy.
"Faced with the threats weighing on the unity of our country, faced with the manoeuvres and propaganda of the dictator and his family, we solemnly declare: Nothing will divide us," said the text, drawn up in Benghazi on April 12.
"We share the same ideal of a free, democratic and united Libya," it said.
The call came as rebels said they had managed to push back Qadhafi's forces and secure the port of besieged Misrata, a day after it came under sustained rocket fire.
The insurgents said NATO air raids overnight enabled them to force Qadhafi's troops 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the port of Misrata, which remains encircled by regime troops to the east, west and south.
That put Qadhafi's Grad rockets out of range of the port, an aid conduit for rebels in the western city of half a million people that has been under siege for more than seven weeks.
"Qadhafi's men are dead. There are still vehicles and burned bodies, and we seized many weapons," said a leader of the rebel group, showing as examples a French-made Milan missile, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic guns.
On Tuesday, forces loyal to Qadhafi fired several Grad rockets at Misrata's port, killing at least three African refugees and forcing a humanitarian ship on a mission to rescue them to stay out to sea.
A NATO official said, meanwhile, that a fighter jet taking part in the military operations over Libya crashed on landing at an air base in Italy on Wednesday.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.