20110428
presstv
Libyan revolutionaries have repelled attacks by forces loyal to Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi in the northwestern city of Zintan.

On Wednesday afternoon, the revolutionaries pushed back Gaddafi forces from Zintan after hours of intense firefight, AFP reported.

The opposition-controlled city of Zintan -- located southwest of Tripoli -- was bombarded with rockets for several hours. At least 20 Grad rockets hit the town, wounding three people.

Libyan regime troops finally withdrew from their positions on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, medical staff at Zintan's hospitals have complained about a "cruel lack" of equipment and the means to treat the sick and wounded.

Meanwhile, Libyan revolutionaries have also reported pushing back Gaddafi loyalists from the Libyan city of Misratah.

They say they have managed to secure the port city a day after it came under heavy rocket fire.

The revolutionary forces say overnight airstrikes by Western coalition forces helped them push back the Libyan regime forces.

A revolutionary leader says the airstrikes inflicted heavy casualties on pro-Gaddafi forces and enabled the revolutionaries to seize a large number of weapons.

Since the revolution against Colonel Gaddafi's regime began in mid-February, tens of thousands have been killed and injured in clashes between Libyan revolutionaries and pro-Gaddafi forces.

US Ambassador to Libya Gene Cretz estimated on Wednesday that the number of Libyan fatalities since the revolution in the North African country began may be as high as 30,000 people.

Many civilians have also reportedly been killed since the Western coalition unleashed a major air campaign against Libyan regime forces on March 19 under a UN mandate namely to “protect the Libyan population.”