Forces loyal to embattled Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi have taken back control of the northern town of Bin Jawad and are advancing towards key oil port of Ras Lanuf to regain it from rebels.
The oil-rich city came under an airstrike on Monday morning, but no casualties were reported. A counter-offensive by Qadhafi's forces have made inroads into recent rebel gains in the east.
Rebels, who have been trying to fight off a counter-offensive by Qadhafi forces, are said to be at a real disadvantage against the well-equipped troops, who are now hell bent on suppressing the rebellion at any cost, ignoring international pressure.
The anti-government forces now are reportedly attempting to advance westwards on Sirte, the despot's tribal heartland.
Meanwhile, Former Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdelilah Al-Khatib has been appointed the United Nations' new envoy on Libya even as the world body prepared to send a humanitarian team to the north African nation.
Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Kusa has agreed to let in a U.N. humanitarian assessment team to the country.
United Nations' relief coordinator Valerie Amos urged Libyan authorities to provide access to those injured in heavy clashes between rebels and pro-government forces in Misrata, 200 kilometers east of capital Tripoli.
A European Union fact-finding mission led by Italian emergency aid expert Agostino Miozzom is heading for Libya to assess the situation on the ground.
U.N. estimates put the number of killed in three weeks of clashes at around 1,000. A massive exodus of foreign workers from the oil-rich country has created a humanitarian crisis along the Libya-Tunisia border.
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May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.