Nearly 30 civilians of Az Zawiyah killed after Gaddafi's forces tried to retake oppostion held town of Az Zawiyah.The oppostion in Az Zawiyah - the closest rebel-held territory to the capital and also the site of an oil refinery - has been an embarassment to the Libyan authorities who are trying to show they control at least the west of the country.
Eastern regions of the country, around the city of Benghazi, have already fallen out of Gaddafi's control after a popular revolt against his four decades of rule.
On Friday evening, at least 12 people were killed and another 10 injured after explosions took place at an ammunition dump near Benghazi. There were conflicting reports regarding the cause of the blast.
Hospital sources said it was triggered when people went into the storage facility to collect weapons, while others blamed pro-Gaddafi forces.
"The two explosions took place at 6:30 pm (1630 GMT). The casualties started to arrive at hospital an hour later," said Idriss Ghazali, a doctor at the Houari hospital.
Anwar Mahmud al-Tajuri, a witness, told the AFP news agency that a fire had broken out in one warehouse, which spread to the second in about five minutes.
"After the first explosion, we left. When the firefighters arrived, they were caught in the second blast."
In Az Zawiyah, Mohamed, a resident of the town, told the Reuters news agency that "dozens were killed" and more wounded in violence there.
"We have counted 30 dead civilians. The hospital was full. They could not find space for the casualties."
Another resident, Mohamed Nusrat, told Al Jazeera: "Gaddafi forces tried to prohibit us from entering the middle square of Az Zawiyah and join the gathering there. They attacked us with machine guns and heavy weapons."
"The opposition movement is now in control of most Az Zawiyah, except for the oil refinery and some outside entrances which are still being guarded by Gaddafi forces."
Their accounts could not be independently verified because reporters' movements in Libya are restricted.
Anita McNaught, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tripoli, said a source close to the Libyan government had told her that Az Zawiyah "has been retaken by government forces".
"Zawiyah now is calm, and its under control by locals and the army and everything is OK. There are a few terrorists, they escaped with some Kalashinikovs and some revolvers and now [security forces] are chasing them," said Khalid Kaim, Libya's deputy foreign minister.
A rebel leader in Az Zawiyah was also killed in the clashes on Friday.
"Many people were killed in Harsha, which is now occupied by them," Youssef Shagan, a rebel spokesman, told the Reuters news agency, referring to a small town just outside Az Zawiyah.
"They shot at civilians. We still control [Az Zawiyah's] central square. They are four to five kilometers away. Our army commander has been killed in Harsha. We have appointed a new one."
Late on Friday night, residents reported that pro-Gaddafi forces had surrounded the city.
"We are under siege, we are surrounded from the east, west and south, only the north is open because it opens to the sea," Ali, a resident, told Reuters by phone. "Electricity has been cut, we are in the dark ... Maybe they are planning an attack."
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