Rebel fighter Ibrahim al-Alwani said he and comrades still in Ras Lanuf had
seen government troops in the town centre.
"I saw maybe 150 men and three tanks," he said. "I can hear
clashes."
Mohammed al-Mughrabi, who described himself as a spokesman for the rebels but
declined to give his exact location, said by phone government troops had
landed by boat near the Fadeel hotel in Ras Lanuf, where clashes were in
progress.
"Four boats carrying 40 to 50 men each landed there. We are fighting them
right now," he said.
Salam al-Burqy, another rebel fighter in Ras Lanuf, said by phone the rebels
had retreated but were still in control of parts of the town.
"We are in control of the residential area in Ras Lanuf," he said.
A fighter in Brega said comrades in Ras Lanuf reported government forces had
entered by boat and in tanks.
On Thursday, government warplanes and gunboats bombarded rebel positions in
Ras Lanuf, more than 300 miles east of Gaddafi's stronghold.
The bodies of four rebels killed in the fighting were brought to a hospital in
Ajdabiyah, further east, along with 36 wounded, said Ibrahim Saeed, a doctor
at the hospital.
Rebels also reported an air strike on Brega, another oil port 50 miles to the
east, on Thursday.
Gaddafi's French interpreter meanwhile claimed that the Libyan
leader felt betrayed by the uprising but would not give in and quit.
"He never expected this and this is why maybe he is so sad. He believes
he had done everything for the Libyan people," Meftah Missouri told AFP.
"According to him, yes, he has been betrayed by everyone, even by his
cousin Ahmed Kadhaf al-Dam.
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