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Anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi protesters, stand atop a truck carrying aid supplies arrives from Egypt, in Benghazi, eastern Libya, on Friday March 4, 2011. In Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city and the stronghold of the rebellion in the east, a s Hussein Malla, Associated Press
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Anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi protesters, pray under the rain during the Friday prayer at the court square, in Benghazi, eastern Libya, on Friday March 4, 2011. Fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi set up checkpoints in Tripoli, searching cars, ahead of Hussein Malla, Associated Press
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Anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi rebel, left, guards African suspected mercenaries, center, as they bring them to the court's prison, in Benghazi, eastern Libya, on Friday March 4, 2011. Hussein Malla, Associated Press
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Seen behind a large flag, a Libyan cleric leads Friday prayers with a speech at the court square, in Benghazi, eastern Libya, Friday, March 4, 2011. In Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city and the stronghold of the rebellion in the east, a self-declare Hussein Malla, Associated Press
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In this photo taken Wednesday, March 2, 2011, a Bengladeshi worker who has been trying to leave the country for a week waits at a camp inside the port in the eastern city of Benghazi, Libya. More than 180,000 of the millions of foreign workers in Libya ha Tara Todras-Whitehill, Associated Press
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Defected Libyan soldiers and volunteers shout and cheer on the outskirts of the eastern town of Brega, Libya, Friday, March 4, 2011. Mutinous army units in pickup trucks armed with machine-guns and rocket launchers deployed around the strategic oil instal Tara Todras-Whitehill, Associated Press
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Defected Libyan soldiers read the Quran, at their post on the outskirts of the eastern town of Brega, Libya, Friday, March 4, 2011. Mutinous army units in pickup trucks armed with machine-guns and rocket launchers deployed around the strategic oil install Tara Todras-Whitehill, Associated Press
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A defected Libyan soldier stays warm underneath a blanket on the outskirts of the eastern town of Brega, Libya, Friday, March 4, 2011. Mutinous army units in pickup trucks armed with machine-guns and rocket launchers deployed around the strategic oil ins Tara Todras-Whitehill, Associated Press
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A defected Libyan soldier sits with his weapons on the outskirts of the eastern town of Brega, Libya, Friday, March 4, 2011. Fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi set up checkpoints in Tripoli, searching cars, ahead of planned anti-government protests Friday, Tara Todras-Whitehill, Associated Press
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Anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi rebels, right, guards African suspected mercenaries, left, as they bring them to the prison of the court building, in Benghazi, eastern Libya, on Friday March 4, 2011. Hussein Malla, Associated Press
By Associated Press

TRIPOLI, Libya — Witnesses say Moammar Gadhafi's forces have broken through rebel defenses at an opposition-held city that is closest to the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

They said the forces loyal to the regime of the country's longtime leader were inside Zawiya, 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Tripoli, after overcoming rebel positions with heavy mortar shelling and machinegun fire.

The rattle of gunfire and explosions could be heard as the witnesses spoke to The Associated Press by phone. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears for their safety.

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They say several fires are raging in Zawiya on Saturday.

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