Libya’s rebel forces claim 10 fighters died ‘in Western air strike’

The opposition fighters have taken up defensive positions near Brega. “Some of Gaddafi’s forces sneaked in among the rebels and fired anti-aircraft guns in the air,” one rebel fighter said. “After that NATO forces came and bombed them.”

Reports of the 10 dead followed the Libyan government claim that Western air strikes at a village nine miles from Brega killed at least 12 civilians and wounded dozens more. The attack was aimed at a truck carrying ammunition for Colonel Muammar Gaddaffi’s forces and the resulting explosion destroyed two homes.

But rebel forces have told Sky News it was their aircraft that was flying that day. These last the three day, NATO air strikes have been reduced significantly due to weather conditions. Officials in fact have said cloud cover and sandstorms have made it difficult to distinguish between Gaddafi’s forces, rebels and civilians.