Muammar Gaddafi's regime has thus far avoided falling to the will of the Libyan people, who continue to demand the leader's ouster.

But the resistance is growing, particularly among cities in the east of the country. A town 30 minutes away from Tripoli - the capital and Gaddafi's stronghold - has fallen under protester control.

Gaddafi's armed forces have also been switching allegiances over the past few days, raising more questions about the embattled leader's fighting force.

Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports.