Libya: 'When you see this aircraft your time will be finished'

LIBYAN rebel units battled their way towards the key oil town of Brega yesterday as Nato dropped leaflets on government forces around the besieged city of Misrata warning of intensive air strikes unless the bombardment of the city stops.

Brega is one of Libya's biggest oil terminals and its capture is a priority for the rebel administration based in Benghazi.

The rumble of artillery and rattle of small arms echoed from areas west of the town throughout the day, with Nato adding air support to hit Libyan government tanks and artillery.

"There is fighting happening there right now. Very soon they will be in Brega," said fighter Osman al-Maghrabi, 35, one of a rising number of rebel fighters who have deserted Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's army. "I think we will be having Friday prayers in Brega this week."

Rebel units launched their offensive on Sunday but suffered a reverse Monday when at least 13 died and dozens more were wounded, reportedly after an advancing unit was cut off and pounded by pro-Gaddafi forces.

"We are pushing for Brega. We are optimistic," said Mohamed Abdel-Karim, a doctor at Ajdabiyah hospital which has treated 87 casualties and reported 20 rebel fighters dead over two days.

Meanwhile, 400 miles to the west, Nato jets dropped leaflets on government lines around Misrata, promising retribution unless pro-Gaddafi forces cease their bombardment.

The leaflets feature a picture of an Apache attack helicopter and a burning tank, and bears the legend in Arabic: "If you go on killing the children and families you will be destroyed."

On the reverse the alliance adds: "When you see this aircraft your time will be finished."

In the past eight days, thousands of mortar bombs and Grad rockets have rained down on Misrata, killing at least 70 fighters and wounding more than 300. Dafniya, a village on the western point of the enclave, has been pulverised.

The leaflets were found by rebel units which had pushed five miles beyond their own front line towards Gaddafi forces, apparently without telling Nato. Rebel leaders say they have been given "red lines" by Nato along the existing front line and told not to advance for fear of being mistaken for pro-Gaddafi forces, something Nato denies.

Yesterday's advance was apparently not communicated to Nato, whose leaflets, which streamed from a canister that exploded high in the air, scattering over rebel, rather than government, positions, as a result of their advance.

An immediate retreat was ordered by rebel units to their previous front, though there was no sign of a Nato attack.

Rebel units have made modest advances south of the city, but their main forces remain in place holding the eastern and western ends of the pocket. On Monday night pro-Gaddafi forces used Grad rockets to target the suburbs, landing close to one of the city's oil terminals.

Three hours after the Nato leaflets fell, dozens of Grad rockets again began to land on rebel positions to the west of Misrata.

West of Tripoli, meanwhile, Tunisia staged a modest show of strength, scrambling an F-5 fighter and a helicopter to fly along the border hours after Libyan rockets fell in its territory.

The rockets were apparently fired as part of a government offensive to dislodge Libyan rebel units who have taken control of the Western mountains..