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The death toll in Libya continued to rise as mercenaries and militia fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi used deadly force to beat back a growing uprising, while rebels took control of a new military base.
At least 17 people were killed in Thursday's clashes, which included an attack by soldiers with automatic weapons in the city of Zawiya, 50 kilometres west of the capital Tripoli. The soldiers fired on a local mosque, where a witness told The Associated Press that people had gathered for a sit-in to support protesters in Tripoli.
It has been difficult to accurately gauge the number of casualties …
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