20110225
reuters

RAS JDIR, Tunisia (Reuters) - Libyan security forces tried to seize back control of the coastal town of Zawiyah, about 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital, but were driven back by government opponents, witnesses said on Friday.

The strategic town, site of an oil terminal on the main highway into Tripoli, has become the focus of a stand-off between forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi, and civilians - -- some of them armed -- who want an end to his 41 years in power.

"There are corpses everywhere ... It's a war in the true sense of the word," said Akila Jmaa, who crossed over into Tunisia on Friday after travelling from the town.

"We need urgent humanitarian aid from all the countries. They cannot leave us alone."

Other witnesses said government forces had made several attempts to take control of coastal town in successive nights of fighting which sometimes flared for hours.

Gaddafi has lost control of major centres in the east of the country, including the second city Benghazi, to a popular uprising inspired by revolutions in neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia, despite killing hundreds of protesters.

It was not clear if the security forces had given up or were planning fresh assaults on Zawiyah.

"There are army and police checkpoints around Zawiyah but there is no presence inside. I just saw a few unarmed civilians," said Saeed Mustafa, who drove through the town on Friday on his way to the Tunisian border.