THE DOMINO EFFECT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

@ robcrilly (Telegraph correspondent)

if they've got any sense, Gaddafi's men are falling back closer to Sirte and just giving up the east
20 minutes ago via web

so strange. all this fighting. now the road is eerily empty #libya
20 minutes ago via web

so strange. all this fighting. now the road is eerily empty #libya
20 minutes ago via web

we just can't run fast enough to catch up with them. I don't think they fancied any more Brimstone up em
22 minutes ago via web

chasing Gaddafi's men across the desert, but absolutely no sign. Reached Ras Lanuf and no signs of any battle #libya
23 minutes ago via web

(All times are local in Libya GMT+2)



1:40pm
Al Jazeera's James Bays reported from Ras Lanuf, saying that the rebel fighters did not encounter much opposition on the road towards the key oil town:

We have traveled along the road all the way in the last few hours, down from Benghazi and the scene is pretty similar all the way along the road.

It is an open road through the desert and there is no sign of any Gaddafi forces apart from at one point in about the last 20 kilometres where there was a group of opposition fighters on the side of the road and they said they had come under fire.

They believe that somewhere in the desert there was one of Gaddafi's solidiers who had fled his position when the opposition advanced along the road. and he was taking pot shots at them, as they advanced down the road and tried to chase him.

1:30pm
Al Jazeera correspondent James Bays reports from Ras Lanuf, which has just fallen into rebel hands.

It is pretty clear to me, and I am at the main refinery in Ras Lanuf, that here it is the opposition who are in control. No signs of Gaddafi's forces here, what they left behind is here, some of their weaponry is here, some of their armourments are here, but they have not left their tanks behind or any of their heavy armour, just some of the ammunition has been left behind, suggesting it was a pretty speedy retreat.

1:14pm
Al Jazeera correspondent James Bays confirms that rebel opposition fighters are in control of the major oil exporting town of Ras Lanuf.

Since Saturday, rebels have also retaken Ajdabiya, Brega and Uqayla from Gaddafi forces.

Badboy wrote:rebels has taken bin jawad
rebels might reach sirte by tomorrow,methinks

@Liberty4Libya
#FLArmy forces in #Libya tell CNN they have taken control of key city of Raf Lanuf. http://on.cnn.com/dI5CGL
17 minutes ago via web

#Tripoli #Gadafi is losing grip on his militias, members R running away from duty after #Ajdabya news. #BaniWaleed #AlWadi #Libya
30 minutes ago via web

#Tripoli is on the verge of explosion, many of #Gadafi militias disapeared, city is patrolled by a Police unit called central support unit.
35 minutes ago via web

(All times are local in Libya GMT+2)

2:51pm
There are reports Libyan rebels have taken back control of the town of Bin Jawad, about 525km east of Tripoli, as they push forward towards Gaddafi's stronghold of Sirte on Sunday, according to Reuters.

The latest advance puts pro-democracy fighters firmly in control of all oil terminals in eastern Libya - Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Brega, Zueitina, Ajdabiya and Tobruk.

Al Jazeera's James Bays reporting from the outskirts of Bin Jawad said rebels are in control of the town and there has not been any fighting, with most of Gaddafi's fighters having fled or surrendered.

It seems there has a been withdrawal and a surrender of Gaddafi forces, not a battle. They removed some of their vehicles that were not bombed further up the road but they removed these vehicles in haste.

There is only one plan. That is to head on, head west up this road. There really is only one coastal road and that is the road to Tripoli. The problem they are going to face is the huge roadblock ahead of us and that's Sirte. A Gaddafi stronghold where many of his troops are based.

@NicRobertsonCNN
Libyan govt offcls continue to smear #EmanAlObeidi. Total character assassination. Govt spksmn told some journos she’s a "prostitute."
1 minute ago via web

NicRobertsonCNN
Libyan offcls say maybe a few female jounrlsts can visit #EmanAlObeidi but no one believes him. SEEING will be believing.
2 minutes ago via web

@NicRobertsonCNN

Libyan govt officials seem shocked at rebel advance. Army losses NOT shown on state TV
half a minute ago via web

Ben Brown

BBC News, Ras Lanuf

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After capturing Ajdabiya on Saturday, the rebels have advanced west along the coastal highway at breakneck speed.

A string of towns has fallen to them easily - Brega, Ugayla and now Ras Lanuf where we are now.

One rebel commander has told me that Colonel Gaddafi's forces are running for their lives, scattering in all directions in full retreat. He says that with the help of God the rebels could be in Sirte by Monday - but that's probably optimistic.

Sirte is the Libyan leader's birthplace and stronghold, his heartland. From now on the going will get much tougher for the rebels.

Even so they are in a state of high excitement - firing their guns into the air, screeching their tyres and doing wheel-spins as they head west.

After days of stalemate the rebels have finally gathered some momentum, even if it's only because they've had so much help from coalition air strikes that have destroyed Colonel Gaddafi's tanks and artillery on the ground.

The coalition forces can say everything they are doing is aimed at protecting civilians. But now it's not Gaddafi forces who are advancing, it's opposition forces advancing. The next big place on the map after Ras Lanuf is Sirte. Now that is a big city, it's Gaddafi's stronghold. If opposition fighters start advancing on that, how can you say it's Gaddafi's forces who are threatening civilians? Gaddafi's forces will be the ones holding the ground, and those that are advancing would be the opposition fighters. [It will be] much harder I think for the coalition then to act in favour of the opposition in the terms of that UN resolution.

@adeb91

A coach of sub saharan africans, possibly mercenaries was stopped by revolutionaries in #BinJiwad, theyre being taken for questioning #libya
about 1 hour ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

@ksnavarra

#Gaddafi tried to pressure #Malta into releasing impounded #Malta flag tanker in #Greece with fuel for #Libya
2 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

Libyan rebels have said they plan to start exporting oil from fields in their territory "in less than a week", and said the Gulf nation of Qatar will market the crude.

A rebel representative, Ali Tarhoni, said he signed a contract with Qatar recently and the deal will ensure "access to liquidity in terms of foreign denominated currency".

We are producing about 100,000 to 130,000 barrels a day, we can easily up that to about 300,000 a day.

We contacted the oil company of Qatar and they agreed to take all the oil we export and market that oil for us. We have an escrow account ... and the money will be deposited in this account, and this way there is no middle man and we know where the money is going.

4:30pm
Head of the Catholic church Pope Benedict XVI in expressing concern about the fighting in Libya has urged diplomats to work for immediate dialogue and to "suspend the use of arms". He said in St Peter's Square on Sunday:

In moments of great tension, the need becomes ever more urgent to turn to every means which diplomatic action can use to sustain even the weakest sign of opening and the willingness for reconciliation among all sides involved, in the search for peaceful and lasting solutions.

In this perspective ... I make a heartfelt appeal to international bodies, and to those who have political and military responsibilities, to immediately start dialogue to suspend the use of arms.

4:05pm
Eyewitnesses say pro-Gaddafi forces have resumed shelling the rebel-held city of Misurata, ending a brief lull in fighting following air raids by international forces.

A resident, Saadoun, told Reuters by phone:

Misurata is under attack, the city and the port area where thousands of workers are. We don't know whether it's artillery or mortars.



3:30pm
Fuel and food are running short in Tripoli, with long queues forming in front of petrol stations as residents rush to stock up on supplies on Sunday.

A resident, Radwan, told Reuters news agency after waiting 90 minutes for petrol:

It is not easy to get fuel, to get bread, to get anything, food for example. It is hard to get these things and stock for us.

Are they trying to free us or are they trying to get something from Libya? I don't know exactly.

carmen wrote: