Libyan rebel attack repulsed from western town of Zawiya

Libyan government troops today claimed to have repulsed a fresh attempt by rebels to take the western town of Zawiya.

Reporters taken to the town, 18 miles west of Tripoli, said it was calm and appeared under government control with the green national flag flying in the central square.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said an attack by rebel fighters had been driven off. "The wishful reporting of some journalists that the rebels are gaining more power and more control of some areas is not correct," he said.

The BBC reported today that rebels were smuggling weapons through Tunisia to fight Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime. He has been shown on state television playing chess in Tripoli with the president of the international chess federation.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said the Libyan leader told him he had no intention of leaving the country.