It cost rebels 36 lives in the final push, but opposition forces eventually managed after five hours of fighting on Saturday to take the costal city of Zlitan, one more step on the road from Misrata to Tripoli.
Facing heavy fire from Gaddafi's artillery, rebels inched kilometer by kilometer for more than two months, supported by NATO close-air support.
Some Zlitan residents were eager to take their families and leave; others had chosen to join the rebels at an agreed-upon time to rise up against Gaddafi's forces. The town centre became an impromptu celebration.
Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports from Zlitan.
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