The attack on Brega, which hosts Libya’s second largest hydrocarbons complex, was the first significant assault by pro-Gaddafi forces on an eastern town held by the opposition since a popular uprising seized control of the region more than a week ago. An oil official in the east said there was no damage to the oil facilities in the fighting. But oil prices surged to near $118 a barrel, nearing a two-and-a-half-year high, on concerns over the assault.
“The people, the youth, the revolution have recaptured Brega after a few hours,” said Hafiz Ghoga, a spokesman for the opposition’s national council.
The Benghazi-based council, which includes representatives from areas seized from the regime, on Wednesday named Moustafa Abdel Jalil, a former justice minister, as its head, and said it should be seen as the legitimate international representative of Libya.
It called for air strikes on the “strongholds of mercenaries” and a no-fly zone over the oil-rich north African state – but not foreign troops on the ground.
Ahmed Gibreed, a spokesman for Mr Abdel Jalil, told the Financial Times the council was hoping the US would take the lead in supporting the opposition and “not just be reactive to what is happening on the ground”.
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