Posted 1 hour 58 minutes ago
'Misrata is free'... government troops have withdrawn from the city (Reuters: Yannis Behrakis )
The United States has launched its first Predator drone strike in Libya, as Misrata rebels claimed victory over Moamar Gaddafi's troops who have retreated from front lines.
NATO says the drone strike targetted a multiple rocket launcher which had been used against civilians in Misrata.
The Libyan government's retreat in Misrata appears to be a significant setback for Muammar Gaddafi's forces hastened by NATO air strikes.
Misrata, the last large city held by rebels in western Libya, had been under a punishing government siege for nearly two months and hundreds of civilians have died in the fighting.
"We have been told to withdraw. We were told to withdraw yesterday," a government soldier captured by rebels, Khaled Dorman, said from the back of a pickup truck.
The man was among 12 wounded soldiers brought by rebels to hospital in Misrata, 200 kilometres east of Tripoli.
Blasts and machine gun fire could be heard in the distance.
Another serviceman, asked by a Reuters correspondent if the government had lost control of Misrata, said "yes".
Rebel spokesman Gemal Salem, in Misrata, said pro-Gaddafi forces had left the city but remained outside and would still be in a position to bombard it.
"Misrata is free. The rebels have won," he said.
"Of Gaddafi's forces, some are killed and others are running away."
But the overall trend of fighting in Libya was far from clear.
Al Jazeera television reported that heavy fighting continued around a hospital in western Misrata being used as a base by pro-Gaddafi forces.
Government forces also captured the town of Yafran in Libya's Western Mountains on Saturday, a rebel spokesman said.
The conflict in the Western Mountains has received little international attention.
Rebels there captured a border post two days ago and had begun been rushing supplies to towns under attack, saying they were cheered by reports from Misrata.
Air strikes
The Libyan government said late on Friday that NATO air strikes had taken their toll on its forces.
"The tactic of the Libyan army is to have a surgical solution, but it doesn't work, with the air strikes it doesn't work," deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim said.
"The situation in Misrata will be eased, will be dealt with by the tribes around Misrata and the rest of Misrata's people and not by the Libyan army."
In addition to drone strikes, a British military spokesman said British warplanes had destroyed government armoured vehicles near Misrata and in other areas of Libya in recent days.
A rebel spokesman in Misrata, Abdelsalam, said pro-Gaddafi tribes were in a minority in the area:
"There are two small pro-Gaddafi settlements outside Misrata. They make up less than 1 per cent of the population of Misrata and the surrounding area," he said.
"Those people know that when Gaddafi's regime falls, they will fall with it."
He predicted the government would boost its strength by paying mercenaries to pose as tribesmen.
A rebel spokesman said rebels were now combing Misrata and clearing the streets.
He says before leaving, pro-Gaddafi forces booby-trapped bodies, houses and cars.
"One man was opening his fridge when he went to his house after the Gaddafi forces left it this morning and it blew up in his face," he said.
"Bodies the same. When the rebels are trying to lift a body it blows up."
A rebel spokesman told Al Jazeera television at least 15 people had been killed by booby-traps and ambushes and 31 wounded.
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