Podcast

Libyan rebels 'gaining ground'

Updated: 2011-05-12 11:00

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Libyan rebels said they had made gains by driving back Muammar Gadhafi's troops on the eastern and western edges of the port city of Misrata and encircling them at the airport.

The rebels also said on Tuesday they had taken the town of Zareek, about 25 kilometers west of Misrata, but no independent verification of the rebel statements was available.

Misrata, besieged by government forces for eight weeks, is strategically important to rebel hopes of overthrowing the Libyan leader because it is the only city they hold in the west of the North African country.

NATO launched missile strikes on Tuesday in the Tripoli area on targets that appeared to include Gadhafi's compound, witnesses said. NATO said later it carried out a strike against a government command and control post in the capital.

Rebels hold Benghazi and other towns in the oil-producing east while the government controls the capital and almost all of the west.

Thousands have been killed in the fighting in the vast country, which has a population of more than six million.

The government says the rebels are armed criminals and al-Qaida militants and that the majority of Libyans support Gadhafi, who has been in power since 1969.

Questions:

1. How many kilometers is Zareek from Misrata?

2. Where did NATO launch missile strikes on Tuesday?

3. When has Gadhafi been in power since?

Answers:

1. 25

2. Tripoli

3. 1969

去聽寫專區一展身手

（中國日報網英語點津 Julie 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.