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By PAUL SCHEMM and MAGGIE MICHAEL, Associated Press


      RAS LANOUF, Libya (AP) - Libyan warplanes launched at least five
new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras
Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition
from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi's stronghold in the
capital Tripoli.


      There was no immediate word on casualties, and an Associated
Press reporter who witnessed the strikes said they did not appear
to hit any fighters. The latest airstrike hit a two-story house in
a residential area, causing some damage but not hurting anyone.


      Representatives of the opposition, which controls the eastern
half of Libya, said they have received an offer to negotiate the
terms of Gadhafi's departure. However, they could not confirm
whether the envoy who made the offer was authorized by the regime
to do so and said in any case, they would not negotiate with the government.


      Gadhafi's regime has been using its air power advantage more
each day to check a rebel advance west toward Tripoli on the main
highway leading out of the opposition-controlled eastern half of
the country. The increasing use of air power underlines the
vulnerability of the rebel forces as they attempt to march in open
terrain along the Mediterranean coast and could prompt world powers
to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to deny Gadhafi that edge.


      The United States and its NATO allies edged closer Monday to
formulating a military response to the escalating violence in Libya
as the alliance boosted surveillance flights over the country and
the Obama administration signaled it might be willing to help arm
Gadhafi's opponents. Europe, meanwhile, kick-started international
efforts to impose a no-fly zone.


      It still appeared unlikely that U.S. warplanes or missiles soon
would deploy in Libya, which has been sliding toward civil war, but
the continuing violence increased pressure on Washington to do
something or at least spell out its plan.


      The rebels are fighting to oust Gadhafi from power after more
than 41 years, a goal in common with the protesters who managed to
topple authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt.
However, the Libyan uprising has already proved much more violent,
and could be much more drawn out.


      On a separate front, a witness said Gadhafi loyalists have
recaptured Zawiya, the city closest to Tripoli that had fallen into
opposition hands after heavy shelling by tank artillery and
mortars. The witness, speaking to The Associated Press by phone,
said Gadhafi's tanks and fighting vehicles were roaming the city 30
miles (50 kilometers) west of Tripoli and firing randomly at homes.


      The witness spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared
reprisal.


      He said electricity, phone and Internet services have all been
cut. The witness spoke to the AP after he managed to escape the
city through surrounding farmlands and reach a point outside Zawiya
where mobile phone coverage was available.


      "The city is in ruins," he said. "Some buildings have been
entirely destroyed and everyone on the street is shot on sight.
There are many wounded but the hospitals are running out of
supplies," he said, describing conditions in the city after the
regime's counteroffensive on Monday. The offensive on Zawiya is
thought to be spearheaded by an elite unit led and named after one
of Gadhafi's sons, Khamis.


      In Benghazi, the main city in the rebel-held east of the
country, a spokesman for the newly created Interim Governing
Council said a man who claimed to represent Gadhafi has made
contact with the council to discuss terms for Gadhafi to step down.
Mustafa Gheriani told the AP the council could not be certain
whether the man was acting on his own initiative or did in fact
represent the Libyan leader.


      "But our position is clear: No negotiations with the Gadhafi
regime," said Gheriani, who declined to say when contact was made
or reveal the identity of the purported envoy.


      As the fighting continues, Gadhafi's regime is also coming under
mounting pressure from some Arab nations.


      Gulf Arab countries joined the calls for a no-fly zone, with the
foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates saying during a
conference of his country's neighbors that the U.N. Security
Council should "shoulder its historical responsibility for
protecting the Libyan people."


      Still, Western military intervention does not seem imminent -
and the warnings may be an attempt to intimidate Gadhafi with words
before deeds.


      British and French officials said the no-fly resolution was
being drawn up as a contingency and it has not been decided whether
to put it before the U.N. Security Council, where Russia holds veto
power and has rejected such a move.


      Western officials have said a no-fly zone does not require a
U.N. mandate, but they would prefer to have one.


      Michael reported from Tripoli. Ryan Lucas contributed to this
report from Benghazi, Libya.

Gallery

Libyan rebels try to regroup after setback

Libya's army steps up fight against  Libyan rebels

Bachmann criticizes Obama over Libya

Libyan protesters hit by tear gas in Tripoli

Rebels deploy around strategic Libyan oil port

Unrest

Libyan warplanes launched at least five
new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras
Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition
from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi's stronghold in the
capital Tripoli.

Libyan warplanes strike rebels at oil port

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