Both sides claim control of two Libyan towns

Two different tales of two different cities circulated on Friday as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi fought rebels over control of Zawiyah and Raslanuf.

REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Fighting for Zawiyah, near Tripoli, left "many dead", witnesses said.

State television said Kadhafi's forces had seized the city, while a local politician denied the report and said opposition forces were in control.

A government official later said "pockets of resistance" remained.

In the oil refinery town of Raslanuf, hundreds of rebels cheered after forcing loyalists out of key positions in fierce fighting.

"We've taken their barracks," said rebel fighter Suleh Sultan. "The residential area is being combed now for remnants (of Kadhafi's forces)."

Libya's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim denied the claims that rebels held Rasnaluf.

"The government controls it. In Rasnaluf, everything is calm," the minister told journalists in Tripoli.