Gaddafi Forces 'Fire First Scud Missile'

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi have fired a scud missile near Brega
The launch marks the first use of a tactical ballistic weapon by Gaddafi's troops since the conflict started last March.

A warship off the coast monitored the launch from Col Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte.

No-one is believed to have been hurt in the incident after the missile "overshot" the target by about 50 miles and fell "harmlessly in the desert", a US official said.
The missile attack comes after the US said Libyan rebel advances are choking off Libyan forces in the capital Tripoli and significantly increasing pressure on Col Gaddafi.

US state department spokewoman Victoria Nuland said an envoy from the rebel's National Transitional Council had reopened Libya's embassy in Washington, further formalising ties between the US and rebels.

"What we are seeing is an effort by the rebels to choke off the access routes into Tripoli and to up the pressure on Gaddafi,"
"We're encouraged by the progress that they're making, and they are increasing the pressure on Tripoli significantly," she said.

Rebels have threatened to isolate Tripoli by cutting oil pipelines and blocking key supply routes as they edge closer to the capital.

The group pushed into the strategic city of Zawiyah last Saturday - within just 38 miles of Tripoli - with rebel commanders saying they controlled the south and west of the city.

It is is the strongest position they have been in since the civil war started six months ago.