The security forces, loyal to Muammar al-Gaddafi, have left the city of El Zawia, Libya, the British news agencies reported on Friday with reference to a witness.

“The army and the police can be seen at check points around the city, but their presence is not noticeable within its boundaries. I saw just several unarmed civilians,” said Sayed Mustafa, a Libyan national, who went across El Zawia on the way to the Libyan-Tunisian border.

When El Zawia, situated 50 kilometres west of Tripoli, was captured by the insurgents, Gaddafi decided to take it by assault. He dispatched the troops and African mercenaries there, and unleashed real massacre with the use of helicopters and military hardware. The action taken by the Libyan authorities resulted in a massive loss of life among the civilian population. Many houses, mosques and school buildings were destroyed.

The impression is that Gaddafi was sure the operation would be a success. He even planned to address the nation on TV from the “liberated” El Zawia as the winner of the armed confrontation with the opponents of his regime. The assault failed, however, and instead of a triumphal TV address, Gaddafi had to comment on the situation in an interview with Libyan TV by telephone. The witness said that now all the units loyal to the dictator left the city. According to preliminary reports, some 100 people died and 400 were injured in El Zawia.