Media ban on Misrata front raises hope of all-out attack

REBEL forces in Misrata banned journalists from visiting front-line areas and evacuated civilians from outlying villages yesterday, triggering speculation that a major offensive is planned against Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's forces.

The move came as Col Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, called for the staging of general elections as a way of ending the four-month civil war.

Rebel fighters at checkpoints around Misrata said they had been instructed to stop journalists from visiting the front "until further notice." Meanwhile villages outside the city close to the front lines were cleared of their few remaining residents.

The decision has prompted speculation in the besieged city that rebel forces will try to link up with a neighbouring besieged town, Zlitan, where rebels are pinned down by Col Gaddafi's elite 32nd Brigade.

Rebel fighters at the front have grumbled in recent days about the non-appearance of Nato Apache helicopters, after lurid leaflets threatening attacks by the British attack aircraft were dropped over government lines on Tuesday.

The leaflets warned of retaliation if units continued to fire on civilians, but intermittent attacks on both Misrata and Zlitan have continued throughout the week.

Front lines remain stalemated, and the idea that elections alone would provide a diplomatic solution to end the war appear slight. The initiative was floated by Saif al-Islam yesterday. He said: "It (elections] is the only painless way to exit from the impasse in Libya.

"What is important is that we have a clean vote. The world will then discover how popular Gaddafi still is in his country."

The rebel National Transitional Council, based in the eastern city of Benghazi, has also called for elections, to be held six months after a new constitution is approved. But it is unlikely to back Mr al-Islam's call.

Last month rebel leaders rejected a peace initiative by South African president Jacob Zuma, who spoke out against Nato's bombing campaign and met with Col Gaddafi, who called for an end to fighting and peace talks. Rebel leaders dismissed the plan as a stalling tactic, and are likely to view the promise of elections in a similar light.The transitional council has demanded any ceasefire be accompanied by the resignation of Col Gaddafi, freedom of movement and a release of prisoners and war crimes investigations - conditions the regime has yet to accept.

Rebel leaders are anxious about the fate of their comrades in Zlitan: the town is smaller and harder to defend than Misrata, and unconfirmed reports in Misrata say Col Gaddafi has moved troop reinforcements into Zlitan in civilian vehicles.

The prospects of a successful attack, even backed by Apache helicopters, appear problematic.One rebel military source said government troops are dug-in along wooded high ground close to Zlitan, with mortar units behind them set to fire on any approaching rebel units..

While British Apache helicopters could probably destroy the troops dug in on the ridge, the mortar units would be hard to find and able to fire on any rebel advance.