Rebels, Gadhafi forces clash at Zawiya

Misrata, Libya (CNN) -- Government forces clashed with rebels in the Libyan city of Zawiya Saturday, said a rebel spokesman, one day after heavy fighting took place in the western city of Misrata.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in Zawiya, spokesman Ahmed al-Hawaary told CNN. He said fighting began early in the morning. Rebels surrounded a group of forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in the western part of the city, he said, adding that government forces control the eastern areas of Zawiya and the roads leading to Tripoli.

Zawiya is about 31 miles (50 kilometers) west of the capital city.

Rebels remain in control of some neighborhoods in Zawiya's city center and the west, al-Hawaary said.

The spokesman reported that NATO bombarded positions of forces loyal to Gadhafi in Zawiya, damaging equipment. It was not clear if anyone was injured or killed in those attacks, he said.

NATO intervened in March in the monthslong civil war under a U.N. mandate to protect civilians as Gadhafi tried to crush the revolt against him.

CNN could not independently confirm al-Hawaary's account of the clashes, which came one day after heavy fighting in Misrata.

Misrata has borne the brunt of the fighting in Libya for the past two months. More than 1,000 people are believed to have been killed there since early February, including 707 residents.

Fighting began there Friday at dawn and continued past midnight, leaving at least 31 people dead and more than 160 injured as rebels thwarted efforts by government forces to enter the city from the west and south.

The casualties were the heaviest in a month, said Dr. Khaled Abu Falgha with the city's Hekmah Hospital.

Relative calm returned Saturday, though rebels stepped up security at various checkpoints in the city and its outskirts. Many told CNN they feared forces loyal to Gadhafi could try to infiltrate their ranks.

Misrata is about 130 miles (209 kilometers) east of Tripoli.

The Misrata rebels' media committee released a statement Saturday claiming that Gadhafi forces fired rockets on the Dafniya area, damaging farmhouses and crops. No immediate casualties were reported.

The rebels also said a number of government forces were captured and that some 300 of Gadhafi's soldiers were killed in clashes in Zlitan on Friday.

CNN could not independently confirm those claims.

CNN