Libyan Rebels Within 50 Miles Of Capital

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Rebels in Libya's western Nafusa mountain range were less than 50 miles from the nation's capital Thursday and edging closer to their first significant victory outside their mountain stronghold, pounding the small town of Bir Ghanam with artillery and rockets.

Rebels were firing on government positions from a cement factory in the foothills of the mountains as NATO warplanes, including at least one Apache helicopter, aided in the battle by striking government troops at least three times.

The rebels had already advanced far from their home turf toward heavily populated areas controlled by Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi's forces, and they expressed fears that civilians would be caught in the crossfire once a battle to the finish began.