Gadhafi Son Rules Out Ceasefire as Bloody Clashes Continue in West

Slain Rebel Commander's Family Threatens Revenge

Fighting continued apace in western Libya today, with reports that Gadhafi forces launched a counter-offensive around the disputed city of Zlitan, killing seven rebel troops and wounding 65 others. The city was recently sieged by rebels, albeit unsuccessfully.

The latest counter-offensive sparked defiant comments from Moammar Gadhafi’s son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, who claimed that he was no longer interested in a ceasefire, and that “the fighting will continue until all of Libya is liberated.”

Saif’s comments seem to run afoul of repeated statements from the regime, which has been insisting for months that they don’t believe a military offensive will end the war and that they a negotiated settlement. It has so far been the rebels who have rejected the ceasefire.

But the rebels’ cohension appears to be weakening, particularly after the death of rebel military commander Gen. Abdel Fatah Younus, who was killed by other rebel troops after being arrested as a Gadhafi collaborator. Members of Gen. Younus’ family have angrily denied the charges and demanded that the rebel council move against his killers. Today they added that they were growing impatient and might soon have their tribesmen take revenge together, adding another front to an increasingly complicated fight.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.