20110331
Xinhua
TRIPOLI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Libya's government forces are making a comeback in a bid to drive rebels out of some cities they lost since Western forces started airstrikes, as the international community is mediating an end to strifes.

Ground troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi pounded rebels and drove them out of the key oil port of Ras Lanouf on Wednesday, slowing down the rebels' advance along the coastal road toward the nation's capital of Tripoli.

The rebels, armed mostly with light weaponry and riding in pick-up trucks, said they were overwhelmed by the rocket bombardment from government forces and had to give up Ras Lanouf, a Mediterranean town in northern Libya.

The Libyan government forces reportedly also recaptured the city of Es Sider on Wednesday and headed towards another oil city of Brega as rebels retreated east.

Western coalition forces started airstrikes against Libyan government forces since March 19 to allow rebel forces to advance west from the eastern stronghold of Benghazi to seize Ajdabiya, Brega and Ras Lanuf.

The Libyan Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the West was trying to topple Gaddafi through supporting the rebels in the country.

Western forces provided air cover to facilitate the advance of "armed gangs" in Libya, which is a sovereign country and United Nations member,and this behavior violates international laws and norms regulating relations between states, the ministry said.