Libyan opposition gains control over Brega

Libyan opposition forces said on Monday that they have seized Brega oil port, after managing to force the majority of Colonel Gaddafi's forces to retreat to the nearby city of Ras Lanuf. Although the majority of the forces have retreated from the oil city, the opposition forces will have to clear the streets of landmines before they can gain complete control of Brega. Their spokesman, Shams al-Din Abdel Mawla, confirmed that most of Gaddafi's troops have retreated to Ras Lanuf, adding: "We have learned that they have some armoured vehicles equipped with machine guns scattered around Ras Lanuf." He added that their troops are surrounding Brega, which contains an oil refinery, and is the main export port, but they are stationed outside the city centre, explaining that the mines planted by Gaddafi's troops have hindered the progress of opposition militants attempting to control the city. Opposition forces also say the land mines have caused more deaths in their ranks than rocket and artillery attacks during their attempts to control Brega. Abd Al-Mawla reported that ten soldiers from the opposition forces were killed and 175 injured on Saturday, while two were killed and 120 wounded on Sunday. Other battles have been witnessed taking place in different parts of the country, injuring 23 of the opposition forces in confrontations with Gaddafi’s forces near the coastal city of Misurata. The opposition said in a statement: "23 of our fighters were wounded in clashes with Gaddafi’s forces." He added in the statement that the clashes that took place 20 km west of Misurata last night, stating: "We have succeeded in forcing Gaddafi's loyal forces to retreat, and they have lost many of their soldiers." A French news agency also quoted a source in the opposition forces as saying that Gaddafi's troops bombarded their positions in the Souk Al-Talata area, a few kilometres away from the town of Zlitan on Tuesday. With regards to diplomatic developments, on Monday Russia criticized the United States and other nations that recognize the opposition's Transitional National Assembly as a legitimate government in Libya. Moscow described the step as a bias to one side at the expense of another civil war. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergi Lavrov, told journalists: "Those who have declared their full recognition of one political power have ended up in a civil war." "The supporters of such a decision are the supporters of a policy of isolation, and in this case are isolating those forces that represent Tripoli." Lavrov stressed that his country is in contact with the opposition and the Libyan government. The Secretary of the State, Hilary Clinton, announced her country's recognition of the Transitional Council last Friday during her visit to Turkey to attend a meeting of the International Contact Group on Libya. This move will pave the way for the release of billions of dollars in frozen Libyan assets for the Libyan opposition, which will have an impact on military operations. However, Moscow and Beijing have taken contrary positions on the crisis in Libya, by rejecting an invitation to attend a conference for the Contact Group on Libya, which was held in Istanbul recently. Lavrov denied rumours circulating in the Western media recently that Russia is ready to grant Gaddafi asylum. Russia, which abstained from voting on a resolution authorizing the use of force to protect civilians in Libya, has been critical of NATO's military campaigns to achieve this goal. Moscow has also criticized the Contact group on Libya.