Rebels Advance on Gaddafi’s Hometown

A fresh day of vicious conflict in Libya brought gains for both Gaddafi loyalists and the ragtag insurgency. Government forces made inroads in the strategic city of Zawiya, though rebels say they were held off to the town’s outskirts. One witness said 18 people were killed in the battle over the Zawiya. Meanwhile, the opposition claims to have captured both the oil town of Ras Lanouf and also Bin Jawad. They’re now marching westward toward Sirte, which would be an especially meaningful prize since it is the heavily guarded and celebrated hometown of Col. Gaddafi himself.