Libyan rebels retake two key oil towns

RIPOLI: The rebel forces taking advantage of a week's bombing of the coalition included two major cities of Libyan oil.
The recovery of Ajdabiya and Brega marked the first significant victory for the rebels since a coalition of Western forces launched air strikes supported by the UN a week ago to establish a no-fly zone and protect civilians against attacks by government forces.
The insurgent troops had advanced 80 miles (129 km) in just 24 hours.
A spokesman for the rebels, Shamsiddin Abdulmollah told Ajdabiya Benghazi was "100 percent in the hands of our forces and we are continuing on the path Gaddafi forces of Brega," 80 kilometers (50 miles) to the west.
A rebel fighter said the rebels had taken Brega, as well.
"We are in the center of Brega," Abdelsalam al-Maadani said by telephone. "Gaddafi forces are on the retreat and must now be Bisher Al-(30 km, 20 miles) west of Brega."
A reporter who traveled with them confirmed that he had seen rebels in control of the center of the oil town, and told AFP the government forces had withdrawn completely.
Road to Ajdabiyah Brega was littered with trailers ammunition, tanks, multiple rocket launchers and other equipment destroyed by coalition air strikes.
Ajdabiya in a strategic oil city about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Benghazi, tooted horns rebels and flashed the "V" for victory.
But in western Libya, Tripoli, the capital and more support Gaddafi is located, rebels said the port city of Misrata urgently needs outside help because of attacks by the forces of Gaddafi.
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to defend the international intervention, saying: "Do not get me wrong, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian disaster was averted and the lives of countless civilians - innocent men, women and children - were rescued. "
But he added that "the United States should not - and can not - to intervene whenever there is a crisis somewhere in the world."
As the U.S. prepared to hand over command and control of the international campaign for NATO, the duration of the mission was uncertain because Qadhafi has shown no sign of co-operating with a resolution of UN calling for a cease-fire.