Libyan rebels 'gaining ground'

TRIPOLI, Libya - Libyan rebels said they had made gains by driving back Muammar Gadhafi's troops on the eastern and western edges of the port city of Misrata and encircling them at the airport.

The rebels also said on Tuesday they had taken the town of Zareek, about 25 kilometers west of Misrata, but no independent verification of the rebel statements was available.

Misrata, besieged by government forces for eight weeks, is strategically important to rebel hopes of overthrowing the Libyan leader because it is the only city they hold in the west of the North African country.