Forces loyal to Muammar Qadhafi are threatening to overrun the strategic town of Ajdabiyah ahead of talks in Benghazi between the opposition and an African Union (AU) delegation, which aims to find a formula to end the Libyan civil war.
The fear generated by the deepening inroads of the pro-Qadhafi forces in Ajdabiyah — a town only a 90-minute driving distance from Benghazi, is likely to undermine the opposition's leverage during the talks, say analysts.
The pro-Qadhafi forces mounted a fierce assault on Ajdabiyah since Saturday morning. Following classic military tactics, regime forces first resorted to the heavy artillery firing, which was followed by incursions by infantry troops inside the town. By afternoon, shells were landing at Istanbul street in the city centre, causing panic among several opposition fighters, who chose to hastily flee in their vehicles towards Benghazi.
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However, some among the opposition ranks stood their ground, and managed to control the north-eastern access to the town. But another artillery barrage appeared to have dislodged them from their fragile moorings. As the battle raged, NATO forces were pitching in with air strikes, which seemed unable to silence the regime's heavy guns. On Sunday, NATO claimed that air strikes had destroyed 11 regime tanks ahead of Ajdabiyah. The government said it had shot down two opposition helicopters, signalling the high intensity of the fighting on the ground as well as in the air.
Coinciding with its ground offensive, the government on Sunday signalled that it was working on a plan to usher in Libya's transition to a democracy. Officials in Tripoli told foreign journalists that a new constitution was being drafted, which would result in the emergence of a “Libyan version” of democracy. However, officials were evasive about Mr. Qadhafi's role in governance after the proposed political transition was accomplished.
The A.U. delegation, led by South Africa's president Jacob Zuma was expected in Benghazi later on Sunday. The panel also includes the leaders of Mauritania, Mali, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The committee said in a statement it would work on a formulation, which calls for an end to hostilities, “diligent conveying of humanitarian aid” and “dialogue between the Libyan parties”.
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However, many within the opposition were sceptical, under the current circumstances, of finding a viable political solution to the crisis.
“There is no other solution than the military solution, because this dictator's language is annihilation, and people who speak this language only understand this language,” opposition spokesman Ahmad Bani told al Jazeera.
While the Libyan opposition struggled to keep the “revolution “alive, in neighbouring Egypt, protesters were feverishly agitating to infuse new life into their uprising, which had already toppled former President, Hosni Mubarak. On Sunday, more than 1,000 protesters had assembled in Cairo's Tahrir Square, disregarding the Army's order to clear the area.
The opposition to the Army brass had hardened after troops evicted assembled protesters in the early hours on Saturday, using tear gas and rubber bullets, and possibly live rounds. On Sunday, pro-democracy activists burnt the effigy of Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the fast emerging hate figure at Tahrir Square, who heads the military council that is in charge of steering Egypt's political transition.
Spelling out the protesters' demands, Ahmed el-Moqdami, and a youth who was part of a group representing Upper Egypt told Reuters: “First of all, the field marshal must go. Mubarak must be put on trial and a civilian council must be formed for the transition period.”