Gaddafi forces close in on strategic city as revolt faces collapse: London protests continue

Families fled the Libyan city of Ajdabiyah today as the revolt against Colonel Gaddafi appeared on the brink of collapse.

Troops loyal to the regime were reportedly roaming the city's streets and shells were falling on the few districts still under rebel control. A spotter plane guided the artillery fire.

Talks at the United Nations were set to resume today after the US finally joined Britain and France in supporting a draft UN resolution imposing a no-fly zone over Libya. However, a vote on the draft motion is not expected until later this week or early next week, which may be too late for the rebels.

A senior US official warned that even if approved, the no-fly zone could take until next month to be imposed as US ships and planes would have to be moved into place to impose it.

Gaddafi's troops had taken much of Ajdabiyah yesterday but retreated to its outskirts at nightfall before resuming their assault this morning. His forces are also reported to be shelling Misurata, the last rebel-held city in the western half of the country.

In a rare success for the rebels, two Seventies-era MiG 23 fighter jets seized at the start of the uprising were said to have hit at least one government warship as it bombarded Ajdabiyah from the sea. But elsewhere reports indicated that the untrained and ill-equipped rebel force was being routed. "It's indiscriminate fire," one rebel fighter said from the city via telephone, explosions audible in the background. "This is a madman, a butcher. The world is sleeping. They (the West) drunk of Gaddafi's oil and now they won't stand against him."

Since his regime appeared on the brink of defeat a fortnight ago with the opposition seemingly having an unshakable hold on the east of the country and control of several cities in the west, Gaddafi's better armed military has reclaimed much of the territory.

The fall of Ajdabiyah would give the regime control of the strategically important coastal road to Benghazi, the heart of the rebel uprising and the centre of its administration, as well as the desert road to the Egyptian border city of Tobruk. The latest UN resolution under discussion also calls for increased enforcement of an arms embargo and the freezing of further Libyan assets.

Meanwhile in London, protesters today climbed onto the roof of the Libyan embassy. Officers were alerted at around 2.50am after a small group of people gained access to the roof of the building in Knightsbridge.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "They removed a flag from the flagpole and attempted to replace it with another. At present those on the roof remain there.

"It is believed there are up to five people on the roof."

Protesters have gained access to a room near the roof, but not the main building.

Two men, aged 25 and 26, who also tried to climb the building were arrested on suspicion of attempted trespass on diplomatic premises and have been taken to a London police station.

Police said they were speaking with the group in an attempt to "secure a safe resolution".