LIBYA live blog | Brega taken by Gaddafi forces

Reporting by Karl Stagno-Navarra, Matthew Vella, Miriam Dalli and Nestor Laiviera.

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17:55 Libyan forces supporting Colonel Muammar Gaddafi have advanced on rebel-held strongholds, reportedly recapturing the eastern town of Brega.

Dozens of rebel fighters pulled out of the area amid heavy shelling.

Libyan rebel forces have been losing ground for days, including the key oil port of Ras Lanuf on Saturday.

13:00 Gaddafi forces are reportedly gaining momentum in a bid to cover as much ground as possible before any imposition of a no-fly zone. Rebels are reporting facing off against well-equipped forces and casualties are high.

Reuters news agency reports that Libyan Libyan armed forces, loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, have cleared "armed gangs" from the oil town of Brega in the east, an army source said on Sunday on Libyan state TV.

“Berga has been cleansed of armed gangs,” a military sources was quoted as saying on Libyan State TV.

12:00 The United States supported the Arab League's call for a United Nations no-fly zone over Libya, calling the declaration an "important step".

It however stopped short of expressing commitment to any military action, and made no proposal for a swift meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss concrete action on the call.

11:30 The Arab League has backed the idea of a no-fly zone over Libya, as rebels continue to be pummelled by warplanes and are finding themselves pushed back by Colonel Gaddafi's forces.

A special meeting in Cairo voted to ask the UN Security Council to impose the policy until the current crisis ended. The UK and France have vociferously supported the idea, but have failed so far to win firm backing from the EU or NATO.

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15:35 Stopping the violence, rather than forcing Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to leave office immediately, should be the priority for the European Union, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said. Yesterday, EU leaders issued an unprecedented call for Gaddafi to “relinquish power immediately,” but Borg - speaking at a meeting with EU counterparts in Godollo, Hungary - backed down from that request.

“I personally have called for a ceasefire ... stop the fighting and then we shall see what happens,” Borg said, adding his idea of a ceasefire, “should lead to a regime change,” rather than be preceded by it.

He also indicated that if Gaddafi or the rebels were not to respect it, that would “justify further action by the United Nations,” which last month slapped an arms embargo, a visa ban and asset freeze on Gaddafi and 25 of his associates.

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12:09 Speaking in Brussels, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has said that Malta has refused to exchange the two defected Mirage jets for the release of three Dutch navy officers who were held captive in Tripoli and released last night.

Gonzi said he had made an appeal to the Libyan prime minister in a conversation on Tuesday after he landed in Malta in a week of 'shuttle diplomacy'  by Gaddafi's emissaries. "I insisted with the Libyan government that there was no reason for the Dutch crew to be detained. In the last three days there were contacts, and there was a moment were the release of these soldiers was tied to the release of the two jets in Malta. I insisted that the Libyan government had to release these three soldiers."

(Source: OPM)

Gonzi has also reiterated his call that Gaddafi has to go, and that his government has arrived to "inevitable end".

10:54 Dutch Prime Minister Rutte criticised France decision to recognise new National Council in Benghazi as legitimate government, adding that States and not governments are recognised.

10:53 Dutch Prime Minister Rutte says that 'no money or conditions' were made for release of Dutch crew released last night by Libya, and that release does 'not change the Netherlands position on Libya' adding that 'Gaddafi must go'.

10:50 Dutch Prime Minister Rutte has formally thanked Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for Malta's diplomatic efforts and assistance that led to last nights release of the three Dutch navy crew members who were held captive in Tripoli.

10:47 Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, has expressed its support towards the stand taken by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who declared that his government had refused a request by Libya to mediate and help it with the EU over the crisis.AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs Arnold Cassola,  stated: "The Prime Minister is totally right in telling the Libyan regime representatives that this was not a matter of mediation and that Colonel Gaddafi had to listen to the wishes of the Libyan people". 

Prof. Cassola added: "Gaddafi’s son Saif has yesterday re-affirmed that the time has come for full-scale military action against Libyan rebels, against whom no mercy will be shown.  Malta, the EU and the civilised world should never deal with delirious criminals of this kind, who are ready to exterminate their own people" 

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio stated: "Malta, the EU and the UN should side with the people of Libya against their internal oppressor.  The international community should resort to all legal means in order to prevent Gaddafi from butchering his own people".

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