Libyan rebels' army leader killed

Libya's rebels say the head of their armed forces has been shot and killed. It's been suggested that General Abdul Fattah Younis may have been assassinated by other members of the opposition, because of alleged ties to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
That could affect international support for the Transitional National Council, which has been recognized by the US, UK, France, and dozens of other nations as Libya's legitimate governing authority.
Earlier, rebels said they had seized the strategically important town of Ghazaya near the Tunisian border, after heavy fighting with government forces.
Lynn Pascoe, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, says after months of conflict, the situation on the ground in Libya is a virtual stalemate.

"Both sides are willing to talk, but they are still emphasising maximum demands at this point, and patience is clearly required before detailed discussions can begin," he said.

With prospects fading of a swift negotiated settlement, both sides seem prepared for the five-month civil war to grind on into the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which begins in August.

Listen to Christopher Wells' report: