Rebels continue march across Libya

Rebels in Libya have captured the key port of Ras Lanuf as they advance westwards against forces loyal to Colonel Moamar Gaddafi.

After capturing Ajdabiya yesterday the rebels have advanced west along the coastal highway at breakneck speed.

A string of towns has fallen to them easily - Brega, Uqayla and Ras Lanuf.

Ras Lanuf is 370 kilometres west of the rebel stronghold city of Benghazi and 210 kilometres from Ajdabiya, the first town to fall back into rebel hands on Saturday.

It had fallen to Mr Gaddafi's forces on March 12.

After days of stalemate, the rebels have finally gathered some momentum, aided by the past week of coalition air strikes.

Weapons could be seen abandoned on the road and buildings were partly destroyed, indicating Gaddafi forces had retreated further west towards the Libyan leader's hometown of Sirte.

One rebel commander says Government forces are running for their lives, scattering in all directions.

While the rebels continue their march across the country, the war of words between the West and Mr Gaddafi continues, with US defence secretary Robert Gates saying Libyan troops are placing bodies at the sites of coalition air strikes and then blaming western forces for their deaths.

The accusation comes as France says its fighter aircraft have destroyed at least five Libyan government warplanes and two helicopters near the city of Misrata.

The embattled Libyan government says around 100 people have been killed in a week of coalition air strikes on Libya.

"Tonight the air strikes against our nation continue with full power," said government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim.

"We are losing many lives, military and civilians.

"Today the air strikes continued for hours and hours non-stop ... We believe many civilians were killed, including some families who are escaping the air strikes in their cars.

"We think this is murder, this is immoral, this is illegal, this is not the mandate of the Security Council."

But speaking to American network CBS, Mr Gates said the US was having trouble coming up with proof of any civilian casualties caused by the coalition.

He said numerous intelligence reports suggested Mr Gaddafi's forces were collecting the bodies of the people they killed in their assaults and dumping them at the sites of allied strikes.

Asked if Mr Gaddafi's days were numbered, he said "I wouldn't be hanging any new pictures if I were him."

Meanwhile, France says five Libyan government warplanes and two helicopters were destroyed near the city of Misrata as troops were preparing to carry out bombing operations in the region.