After capturing Benghazi, the Libyan rebels have not won another clear victory despite their heroic individual efforts. Even with Nato support, their poorly organised and untrained forces have not been able to defeat the government forces. And with the often confused and fluid situation on the ground, the Nato air strikes have not been able to deliver the necessary military cover that the rebels need to make a decisive advance and get Gaddafi's forces on the run.
Most of the fighting last week was in the key frontline town of Misrata, where fierce battles apparently gave the rebels the upper hand, and the government declared a ceasefire on Sunday which was broken the next day as large explosions continued to be heard in Misrata. The rebels say that Gaddafi is seeking to divide his opponents; and trick them into thinking that the ceasefire was serious while in fact the government has re-armed its forces and is ready to attack again.
The rebels would be wise not to believe anything that the government says. Gaddafi's government has decades of experience in playing different Libyan factions and tribes against each other. The rebels need to keep to their single purpose of regime change and not get trapped in government-inspired schemes.
