Gadhafi Forces in Fierce Counteroffensive in Bani Walid

Forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi fired rockets and scored casualties in a fierce counter-attack in the fugitive ex-Libyan leader's stronghold of Bani Walid Saturday, an Agence France Presse correspondent said.

Ambulances rushed dead and wounded fighters as explosions and gunfire thundered in the air, after the attack on a position of interim government fighters several kilometers from the city center.

"They swept the position after targeting us with Grad rockets," said National Transitional Council fighter Omar Ali Ramadan, who said he and others had managed to take cover at an abandoned house.

"At least seven rockets hit our position."

The AFP reporter saw at least three wounded people being carried in to a field hospital, one of whom subsequently died amid cries of Allahu Akbar (God is greatest).

He said ambulances were rushing to collect other casualties.

Bani Walid is 180 kilometers southeast of Tripoli, the Libyan capital.