Libya rebel advance slowed by 'chemical' trenches

Libya: Libyan rebels said their steady advance on Brega was slowed Saturday by the discovery of defensive trenches around the city that had been filled with flammable chemicals by retreating Kadhafi troops.

After a small rebel reconnaissance force from the north punched through to Brega late on Friday before falling back, a rebel commander said troops were now moving "slowly but surely" toward the town from the east and south as well.

"We are advancing and we are very close to Brega," said Mustafa al-Sagezli, a member of the rebel's revolutionary military council, adding that strongman Moamer Kadhafi's troops had fallen back to positions inside the town.

But the commander said landmines and a series of booby-trapped trenches had forced them to slow the attack in order to minimise casualties. "We know Kadhafi's forces have installed a lot of mines. They have even dug holes and trenches (filled) with some chemical liquids and oil to fire them when our forces enter Brega," he said. It was not clear what kind of chemicals were being used, but the oil hub is home to a large petrochemical facility that produces a range of oil by-products.

Ajdabiya, Sunday, AFP