20110408
reuters

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libyan rebels said on Friday they repulsed a government assault on the besieged city of Misrata but prospects faded for a military overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

NATO leaders acknowledged the limits of their air power, which has caused rather than broken a military stalemate, and analysts predicted a long-drawn out conflict that could end in the partition of the North African oil producer.

Alliance officials expressed frustration that Gaddafi's tactics of sheltering his armour in civilian areas had reduced the impact of air supremacy and apologised for a second "friendly fire" incident on Thursday that rebels said killed five fighters.

Misrata, a lone major rebel outpost in the west of the country, has been under siege by Gaddafi's forces for weeks. On Friday insurgents said they had pushed back an assault on the eastern flank of the coastal city after fierce street battles.

"The attack from the east has been repelled now and the (pro-Gaddafi) forces have been pushed back," rebel spokesman Hassan al-Misrati told Reuters by telephone.

The only active front in the war, along the Mediterranean coast around the eastern cities of Brega and Ajdabiyah, has descended into stalemate for a week with both sides making advances and then retreating behind secure lines at night.

On Friday rebels at the western boundary of Ajdabiyah, gateway to their Benghazi stronghold, fled from an artillery bombardment but there was no sign of a government advance.

The head of U.S. Africa Command, General Carter Ham, said the conflict was entering stalemate and it was very unlikely the rebels would be able to fight their way into Tripoli.