Information updated (the first version was posted at 13:52)
Libyan rebels took control of several towns from government forces Sunday as they advanced westwards with an eye on leader Moamer Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, dpa reported.
The rebels said they had taken control of Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad, after recapturing the key oil port of al-Burayqa.
Broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that the rebels had captured the town of Uqayla, and their next key target was Sirte, some 400 kilometres north-east of Tripoli.
After Sirte, the rebels have their sights set on Misurata, Libya's third-largest city, which they believe will be a gateway to the capital, Tripoli.
"If you are home, on the street, in the car, you are not safe. Misurata is not safe," a resident said in an audio message posted on the website, Feb17voices.
"Our city has been besieged since February 19. We suffer so much, but we are strong people," he said.
The rebels were moving westwards after recapturing the key town of Ajdabiya on Saturday and forcing government troops to retreat.
A Tripoli resident said coalition forces had bombarded the south- western city of Sabha and Sirte, where sources said three fishermen were killed.
Since March 19, a US-led coalition that includes Britain and France has been taking out Libyan air defences and ground forces in order to enforce a United Nations-imposed no-fly zone to protect civilians.
NATO leaders were to meet later Sunday to decide whether the military alliance should take over control of all UN-mandated military operations in Libya.
NATO has so far agreed to perform two of the tasks authorized by the UN - enforcing the no-fly zone and patrolling an arms embargo in the Mediterranean.