NATO urged to press harder in Libya as battles continue

By Greg Campbell, Special for USA TODAY

AJDABIYA, Libya — This normally bustling city was nearly deserted Tuesday as rebel fighters pressed on to the oil port of Brega, taking advantage of recent NATO airstrikes that pushed forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi farther west.

One of the only businesses open was a small coffee shop, attracting some of the few stragglers left in the otherwise abandoned city. Among its customers was Faraq Saieb, who drove to Ajdabiya with three friends from Al Baida, 125 miles north, “to see the situation for myself.”

“To be honest, we are worried about the future,” Saieb said. “We are definitely worried because maybe then they would besiege my city if they have Ajdabiya.”

• PHOTO: Rebellion in Libya

On Tuesday, Gadhafi’s forces fired rockets along the eastern front line and shelled Misrata, the only major city in the western half of Libya that remains under partial rebel control.

France and Britain said NATO should be doing more to pressure the Libyan regime. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the alliance should be firing on the weapons being used by Gadhafi’s troops to target civilians in Misrata.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague said the allies must “intensify” their efforts.

NATO Dutch Brig. Gen. Mark Van Uhm said the alliance was successful in enforcing an arms embargo, patrolling a no-fly zone and protecting civilians. “I think with the assets we have, we’re doing a great job,” he said.

NATO took over command of the operation over Libya from the United States on March 31.

Libyan opposition spokesman Ali al-Issawi said Gadhafi’s soldiers have killed about 10,000 people throughout the country and injured 30,000, leaving many with life-threatening wounds. He said 20,000 other people were missing and suspected of being in Gadhafi’s prisons. There was no way to independently verify the report.

In Ajdabiya, rebels left behind a skeleton crew to watch over what were mostly shuttered businesses and deserted streets in a city of 130,000 residents. Rebel commander Awdea Misrati said the NATO airstrikes gave the rebels defending Ajdabiya some much-needed breathing room, but residents of the bullet-scarred city are being told to stay away until the situation stabilizes.

Misrati said weekend airstrikes fractured Gadhafi forces, leaving small pockets of men and weapons scattered along the desert road to Brega and within the city itself. Fighters reported sporadic gunfire within the city as rebels tracked government snipers left behind, and they fired rockets at a suspected group of government holdouts near the western gate.

The road to Brega is littered with the charred hulls of tanks and cars and where empty shell casings jingle underfoot. Saieb gestured to the motley defense force of about 50 rebels, only half of whom appeared to be armed.

“I thought it would be safe,” he said, “but it’s not.”

African mediators met Tuesday in Algeria to discuss Libya, a day after the rebels’ leadership council rejected their cease-fire proposal. The rebels insist Gadhafi must give up power.

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