EU to open diplomatic office in Benghazi

The European Union was establishing formal diplomatic contacts with the Libyan opposition on Sunday by opening an office in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was to open the office during a visit to Benghazi for talks with the opposition National Transitional Council.

"Opening an EU office is an important signal of our support for the Libyan people. It is the EU putting words into action," Ashton said when she announced the decision 10 days ago.

Most EU nations have frozen their relations with Gadhafi's government and withdrawn their diplomats. Hungary, which holds the bloc's rotating presidency, is the only member nation still maintaining a diplomatic mission in Tripoli.

Rebel fighters trying to end Gadhafi's nearly 40-year rule control most of the east of the country, operating out of headquarters in Benghazi. They also hold the port city of Brega and scattered areas in the West.

Gadhafi has responded to the uprising that began in mid-February by unleashing his military and militias against the rebels, who have been aided by NATO bombing runs aimed at keeping Gadhafi from attacking civilians.

In a statement issued after her meeting with rebel leaders, Ashton said: "I have seen the vision of the Libyan people today all around. I saw the posters as I came from the airport with the words 'We have a dream.' I am here today to explain and be clear about the depth and breadth of our support in the European Union for the people of Libya."

She met with the chairman of the transitional council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil.

The opening of the diplomatic office came as NATO was widening widened its campaign to weaken Gadhafi's regime with airstrikes on desert command centers and sea patrols to intercept ships.

NATO on Sunday said in Brussels that its aircraft flew 49 strike missions on Saturday. They hit a command and control facility near Tripoli, as well as ammunition dumps, air defense radars, and a tank and truck near the rebel-held town in the mountains south of Tripoli.

Early Sunday, NATO raids again targeted the sprawling, heavily fortified Gadhafi compound in the capital Tripoli, said government spokesman Ibrahim Uthman. The spokesman earlier said a NATO strike hit the port but later said that information was incorrect.

Uthman said he believed four people were hit in the strike but the extent of their injuries was not immediately clear.

Meanwhile, there were signs of growing public anger over fuel shortages in government-held territory.

In the coastal town of Zawiya, crowds apparently outraged by dwindling fuel supplies tried to stab reporters in a minibus on a state-supervised trip to the Tunisian border.

The journalists - a Chinese news correspondent and two Britons: a BBC technician and a Reuters video producer - were not harmed in the attack, the first of its kind targeting foreign reporters covering the Libyan conflict.

The assailants also attacked the government official accompanying the reporters - once unimaginable in Libya and a sign of the growing frustrations of residents struggling to cope with rising food prices and gasoline shortages.

In overnight fighting southwest of Benghazi, two rebels were killed and 12 wounded in a firefight with Gadhafi forces at New Brega, a residential area outside the oil town of Brega, Dr. Suleiman Refadi told the AP.

Refadi, a surgeon who volunteers on the front line, said Gadhafi's fighters suffered deaths and injuries but he could not say how many. He said the rebels had attacked from six directions in a bid to outflank the enemy.

They destroyed two vehicles mounted with heavy weapons and captured three, Refadi said.

Brega has changed hands several times since the revolt against Gadhafi began three months ago.

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Lekic reported from Brussels. AP reporter Diaa Hadid also contributed to this story from Tripoli.