Troops loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi moved Friday towards the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, leaders of the insurgency told Al-Jazeera broadcaster.
Government forces stopped around 50 kilometres west of Benghazi, the sources said.
A no-fly zone has been imposed over the country according to a United Nations mandate, but there are no reports yet of foreign fighter jets enforcing the ban, dpa reported.