The uprising spread quickly through eastern Libya, which had seen less economic investment than the western half.

Gaddafi forces lost control of several cities in eastern Libya, and a number of officials resigned or defected from his government.

People in eastern Libya, however, reportedly welcomed the comments.

Human Rights Watch said it had seen no evidence of mercenaries being used in eastern Libya.

There is also a small population on the coast of eastern Libya.

Unfortunately every air defense site in eastern Libya and western Egypt is looking for us, and both sides are on full alert.

Infrared detectors picked up four large blasts in eastern Libya last night.

It gave eastern Libya the classical name Cyrenaica that it has retained to modern times.

In eastern Libya, a rebel advance from the city of Benghazi was repelled by government tanks.

Its members are estimated at 1,000 with presence in eastern Libya and in Kufra.