Libyan opposition forces seize city of Zawiya as UN supports sanctions against Gaddafi

Forces fighting to oust the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi have seized the city of Zawiya, 30 miles from the capital, Tripoli.



According to the BBC, several journalists have been taken to Zawiya by the Libyan government to observe the tension, but instead of a show of government force, opposition fighters have been seen manning the barricades in the city centre and flying their flag.



The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Col Gaddafi's regime.



Eastern Libya has fallen to the uprising, but Tripoli remains in the control of Col Gaddafi, who is facing the biggest challenge to his 41-year rule.



Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency says nearly 100,000 migrants have fled from Libya into neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt in the past week.



It warns of a growing humanitarian crisis. Many of the migrants have no way to get home and are sleeping out in the open.