Sky Witnesses Rebels Fighting For Zawiyah

A firefight has been raging between Libyan rebels and forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi in the centre of the key oil town of Zawiyah.

Some of those fighting to depose the country's dictator of four decades were injured during battles witnessed by Sky News in the town's Martyrs' Square.

Nato jets were then seen flying in to assist the rebels.

Anti-government fighters are closing in on the country's capital Tripoli, unseating Colonel Gaddafi's supporters nearby.

Rebels say there are only around half a dozen villages between them and the capital -and that they could reach the Gaddafi stronghold within the next fortnight.

Sky's special correspondent Alex Crawford has spoken to the rebel fighters and saw them fighting.

"We have been here for several hours now and there has been continual shelling overnight, primarily in the east of the town - that is the area closest to Tripoli," she said.

"That is where most of the Gaddafi military is based and where they have been doing most of their shelling.

"We know overnight, according to rebels, they claim they have taken control of the oil refinery.

"They were clearing out the final Gaddafi fighters on Wednesday afternoon and they said they believed they had control of it.

"There was though the possibility of lingering snipers holding up the oil refinery, but (the rebels) believe they now have control of it."

Crawford said she had spoken to the rebel leader, who said they aimed to reach Tripoli by the end of Ramadan.

Describing her trip from the Tunisian border into Zawiyah on Wednesday night, she said: "There is a feeling of confidence and buoyancy all along the route.

"We saw crossing the Tunisian border fresh supplies of ammunition and fuel heading for the rebels, including grad rockets."