Fierce battle for Libyan eastern town ongoing

Heavy gunfire and loud explosions were heard in Ajdabiya on Sunday, as reports of intense shelling of the town from the west, from where pro-Gaddafi forces are attacking.

One rebel to the east of Ajdabiya was reported by Reuters as saying that there is resistance inside the city as Gaddafi forces clash with rebels. Another claimed that Gaddafi snipers in civilian clothing are in the city as well.

Ajdabiya is important to the opposition as it controls a strategic crossroads and is the last town before the main rebel city of Benghazi. Rebel forces had advanced towards Brega on Saturday but were forced back by a counter-attack.

The BBCreports that once again Libyan government forces have shown they are able to operate in a much more sophisticated way than the opposition - outmanoeuvring them rebels by coming in from the desert.

Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said government forces had shot down two rebel helicopters in the east, and maintained that "A clear violation was committed by the rebels to [UN] resolution 1973 relating to the no-fly zone."

Nato however maintained that it is applying the zone fairly and on Saturday escorted a rebel MiG-23 fighter jet back to its base.

Nato is continuing its air strikes on Gaddafi military targets as it pursues the UN resolution to protect civilians. On Saturday, it said it had destroyed another 17 tanks and damaged nine others, many around the western city of Misrata.

Meanwhile, the African Union diplomatic mission has gathered in Mauritania, with South African President Jacob Zuma flying in on Sunday.