Pro- and anti-government forces have been battling for ground in Libya. Explore the map below to find out more about the key flashpoints.
The eastern rebel stronghold has been under the control of the anti-government movement since the first week of the uprising and is seen as the epicentre of the rebellion.
The town saw some of the most violent demonstrations in the early days of the uprising last month - with witnesses describing how Libyan troops opened fire with machine-guns and large-calibre weapons on anti-government protesters.
The International Criminal Court has identified at least nine incidents that could constitute crimes against humanity, including the alleged killing of 257 people in Benghazi.
