Rebels fighting in Libya's western mountains are preparing for a new offensive against Gaddafi's troops. This is raising the pressure on the Libyan leader even further after Britain granted diplomatic recognition to the opposition.

With hopes fading of a negotiated settlement, both sides appear prepared for the five-month-old war to grind on into the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in August. The rebels say they're planning to attack the town of Ghezaia near the Tunisian border in the next 48 hours. He said that forces from a number of rebel-held towns in the Nafusa Mountains were gathering in Nalut, ready for the attack.