Pro-government forces have intensified attacks on Libyan rebels, forcing them to abandon the key town of Bin Jawad. The BBC's Nick Springate in Bin Jawad said hundreds of cars were fleeing eastwards from the town, which had been in rebel hands earlier on Tuesday.
The city of Misrata, closer to Tripoli, is also reported to be under heavy attack from government troops.
The renewed fighting comes as delegates from dozens of countries meet in London to discuss the future of Libya.
Anti-Gaddafi forces had made rapid progress westwards from their stronghold in Benghazi in recent days - greatly aided by international air strikes - seizing a number of coastal communities and important oil installations, including Ras Lanuf, Brega, Uqayla and Bin Jawad.
But on Tuesday rebel fighters said pro-Gaddafi forces had used heavy weaponry to check their advance.
The rebels first retreat from the town of Nawfaliya, 120km (75 miles) from Col Gaddafi's birthplace of Sirte, to the coastal town of Bin Jawad, some 30km further east.
Our correspondent in Bin Jawad reported intense fighting over the town before the rebels fled in hundreds of vehicles. (read more)
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