Zawia remains in the hands of the people after intense fighting and many deaths #Libya #Feb17 #gaddaficrimes
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces broke through rebel defenses at the city of Zawiya Saturday, witnesses said after a battle in which dozens of people were killed.
The attack on the city, about 30 miles west of Tripoli, saw an improvised force of rebels armed with hunting rifles and swords take on troops from the elite Khamis Brigade — named after the son of Gadhafi who commands it.
The witnesses said that forces loyal to the regime had overcome rebel positions with tanks, heavy mortar shelling, machinegun fire.
The rattle of gunfire and explosions could be heard as they spoke to The Associated Press by phone. They did so on condition of anonymity because of fears for their safety.
They added that several fires were raging in Zawiya Saturday.
"Now with all the artillery, tanks and armored vehicles, we're seeing battles and killings we haven't seen in Iraq. I consider it total genocide," said one witness who spoke to Al-Arabiya television.
"The battles have now entered the city. More than 15 armored vehicles entered two hours ago along with a tank. There is heavy firing in all the areas and mosques have announced 'jihad' against these brigades," the man told Al-Arabiya.
Al-Jazeera television news carried similar reports about fighting in Zawiya and said tanks had fired on homes.
"There is heavy bombing of the city by tanks and heavy weapons and mortars — the rebels are struggling to resist with very primitive means. They [invading forces] have no mercy and are very brutal. There is a large number of injured and a lot of people killed on the streets," a witness, Ahmed, told Al-Jazeera by telephone.
'We will die here'
He said he was speaking from the central Martyrs' Square in Zawiya where he and other rebels had been surrounded by tanks. Artillery and machine gun fire could be heard in the background.
"There is no mercy to civilians ... there is a very tragic situation happening right now. It's a very serious situation. We were expecting the world to intervene, but they have let us down. Shelling is now coming in from all sides," Ahmed told Al-Jazeera.
"We have made up our mind that we will die here. Where is the United Nations or the Arab League or the international community who have spoken about our rights or protecting us? I don't think they meant what they have said," he added.
Al-Jazeera reported that hospital medics claimed to have seen injured people on Zawiya's street being executed and that ambulances had been attacked.
After a number of failed attempts to take the city, the troops on Friday launched a fresh offensive, bombarding Zawiya's western edges with tanks and anti-aircraft guns, several residents said.
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