Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte braces for rebel advance

• Foreign ministers from 35 countries, as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, are set to meet in London on Tuesday to discuss future strategy on Libya.
• The advance of Libyan rebels toward Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte was halted on Monday some 60 kms (35 miles) outside the town, an important military base, when their convoy was attacked by Gaddafi forces.
• In a joint statement , French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Gaddafi supporters to abandon him "before it is too late."
• Qatar became the first Arab country to recognise the rebels as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people. Libyan state television called the move "blatant interference".
• A US Treasury official said the rebels could sell Libyan crude without being subject to US sanctions if they conducted the transactions outside the National Oil Corporation or other entities in Gaddafi's administration subject to sanctions.
• The rebels made significant advances over the weekend, taking control of all the main oil terminals in eastern Libya, including the key ports of Ras Lanuf and Brega.
• Gaddafi's forces struck back on Monday, regaining control of parts of Libya's third-largest city of Misrata. Misrata is the only city under rebel control in western Libya.

Read our liveblog covering Monday's events in Libya: