리비아 반군은 수 주일에 걸친 치열한 전투에서 승리하면서 카다피군을 트리폴리로 몰아넣고 있다고 주장했다.
리비아 동부지역을 점령하고 있는 반군은 최근 트리폴리 동부전선의 전투에 초점을 맞추면서 카다피 군은 수도 방어를 위해 2개의 전선에 군을 투입하고 있다.
트리폴리에서 리비아 정부대변인은 카다피가 활기차게 일상 업무를 보고 있다고 말하고 카다피는 리비아를 떠나지 않을 것이라고 발표했다.
한편 남아프리카 프리토리아에서 모임을 가진 아프리카 지도자들은 카다피가 리비아 내전을 종식시키기 위한 협상에 참석하지 않을 것에 동의했다고 발표한데 대해 리비아 정부는 양보안을 즉각적으로 확인하지 않고 있다.
(영문기사 원문)
Libyan rebels claim advances in western mountains
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Rebels in Libya's western mountains said they have advanced and are battling Moammar Gadhafi's forces in a strategic town southwest of the capital, ramping up pressure against government troops on a second front.
The rebels' claim of an advance into the outskirts of the town of Bair al-Ghanam, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Tripoli, follows weeks of intense fighting in the Nafusa mountains in which opposition forces have slowly pushed Gadhafi troops back toward the capital.
Libya's rebels control the eastern third of the country and pockets, including a number of Nafusa mountain towns, in the west.
The bulk of the fighting in recent months has been focused on front lines to the east of Tripoli. But a push by rebels from the Nafusa mountains could force Gadhafi to commit more troops to the southern and western approaches to the capital.
A rebel military spokesman in the Nafusa mountains, Gomaa Ibrahim, said opposition fighters and government troops have been fighting since early Sunday on the periphery of Bair al-Ghanam.
In Tripoli, Gadhafi's government remained defiant. Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Gadhafi is in "high spirits" and remains in day-to-day control of the country. He insisted Gadhafi will remain in Libya, but wouldn't confirm that the leader is still in the capital.
Meanwhile, African leaders meeting in Pretoria, South Africa said Gadhafi has agreed not to take part in negotiations to end the more than four months of turmoil in Libya. There was no immediate confirmation from the Libya regime of what could be a significant concession.
In a communique issued after a daylong meeting in South Africa's capital, the African Union's committee on Libya said it "welcomes Col. Gadhafi's acceptance of not being part of the negotiation process."
김희광 기자 april4241@naver.com
