Four killed as rival rebel groups clash in Benghazi

Four people died in clashes between rival factions of the Libyan rebels yesterday in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi, deepening the worst crisis so far for the movement after its chief military commander was killed, possibly by fighters from his own side.

One rebel group overran the base of another faction because they suspected it had freed some supporters of Muammar al-Gaddafi from an opposition prison, rebel information minister Mahmoud Shammam said.

He said the clashes between rebel security forces and members of the al-Nidaa Brigade broke out at about 3am local time on the western outskirts of Benghazi and left four rebels dead and six wounded. The main rebel force took control of al-Nidaa's base after five hours of fighting, he said.

The violence comes two days after suspected al-Nidaa members attacked two prisons in Benghazi, facilitating the escape of 200-300 inmates, including mercenaries, pro-Gaddafi fighters and regime loyalists.

The clashes, coupled with Thursday's killing of rebel commander Abdel-Fattah Younis in circumstances not yet fully explained, point to divisions within the rebel ranks that could sap the movement of unity in its push to topple Col Gaddafi nearly six months after the revolt began.

The general's record as Col Gaddafi's interior minister before his defection in February, made him the target of suspicion among many in the opposition.

In the Nafusa mountains of western Libya near the Tunisian border however, rebel forces said they were making gains in their push against Gaddafi forces.

Yesterday, they said they were in the town of Hawamid and advanced another six to nine miles towards the town of Tiji in the last 24 hours. Tiji is on the main road from the Tunisian border to Tripoli, and is considered strategically important.

However, while rebels have been doing well in the Nafusa mountains, fighting in the east has been stalled for months.