Muammar Gaddafi's forces opened fire on rebels on the western edge of Ajdabiyah on Friday, killing one, insurgent fighters said.

A rebel manning an anti-aircraft gun was shot dead and two others were wounded in the attack one kilometre from the western gate of Ajdabiyah, last major town before the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

"They are in vehicles and they are spread out on foot in the desert," said rebel fighter Mansour Rachid. "It is very hard to track them. They opened fire on us. We have two wounded and one guy was killed."