Libya: rebels take border crossing, pro-gadhafi forces surrender

Witnesses in western Libya say rebels have taken control of a remote border crossing with Tunisia, following fierce clashes with pro-government forces. Tunisia’s state-run TAP news agency

says 13 Libyan soldiers, including a colonel and a commander, have crossed into Tunisia where they were detained. Several news agencies have quoted witnesses who say as many as 100 soldiers

loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi fled into Tunisia and surrendered. The desert border outpost is a small one about 240 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of the capital, Tripoli.

Government forces remain in control of the main border crossing to the north. Meanwhile, fighting continued Thursday in Misrata, the main rebel stronghold in western Libya. There are reports

of reported mortar fire. A day earlier, two Western photojournalists were killed during heavy fighting in the city. Libyan state media reported that a NATO strike late Wednesday outside the

capital, Tripoli, killed seven people and wounded 18 others. A NATO official told the French news agency, AFP, that an alliance airstrike hit a military compound in a suburb of the capital,

but that there were no indications any civilians were killed. Earlier, a NATO commander warned civilians in Libya to stay away from pro-government forces so that NATO airstrikes can be more

effective, as rebels continue to call on the alliance to step up its attacks. Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard said NATO planners and pilots do everything they can to avoid civilian

casualties, but that the “risk cannot be reduced to zero.”