The stalemate has been broken in the east; with the aid of what has been described as "massive" allied aistrikes, the rebels recapture the city of Ajdabiya; a city with about 100,000 inhabitants.

They are, or will soon, head for Brega - and probably Ras Lanuf after that. The loyalists should be unable to move up reinforcing tanks to the front, so I assume these two cities will fall without too much trouble.

The big question then, is Sirte. If the population there is largely loyal, and are willing to put up a fight - then it could become a tricky place, not the least given the UN mandate of 'protecting civilians'. If it isn't, then one could expect it to fall - and the road to Misrata will be relatively "open".