20110305
reuters

ZAWIYAH, Libya (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi launched a new attack on the western town of Zawiyah on Saturday, with tanks shelling a rebel-held central square, residents said.


In a second day of fierce fighting for control of the coastal town, 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, government forces were forced to retreat to the outskirts early on Saturday but later mounted a counter-offensive.

"The fighting has intensified and the tanks are shelling everything on their way. They have shelled houses. Now they are shelling a mosque where hundreds of people are hiding, resident Abu Akeel told Reuters by phone. "We can't rescue anyone because the shelling is so heavy," he said.

Another resident in the main square said: "The attack has started. I see more than 20 tanks." Gunfire could be heard in the background.

A doctor in Zawiyah told Reuters at least 30 people, mostly civilians, had been killed during earlier fighting on Saturday, bringing to at least 60 people the death toll from two days of battles.

The centre of the town bore the signs of heavy fighting, with smouldering rubble, broken glass and one building completely torched, with bullet holes in the wall.

In the central square four graves had been freshly dug.