A regrouped Libyan opposition on Tuesday launched a fresh offensive on Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte. It comes ahead of a crucial meeting of leaders of western and Arab nations in London to seek a possible deal for Libyan leaders exit from power. Helped by heavy strikes by coalition forces, the rebels were reported to have regrouped in the village of Harawa, 60 kilometers from Sirte to capture the town of Nawfaliyah and were moving towards Sirte. Al Jazeera channel reported that Sirte is Gaddafi's tribal hometown and an important military base in the sixth week of uprising againsthis 41-year-old rule. Rebels used mortars and heavy machine guns to smash through Government forces, defenses at Nawfaliyah and head towards Sirte, but were meeting stiff resistance from Gaddafi's troops. NATO and US warplanes pounded tanks and heavy guns of Gaddafi's forces. For the first time, US media reports said Americans used the AC-130S and A-10 attack aircraft to carpet bomb government troops.Meanwhile, Libyan Army officials claimed that their forces had recaptured and liberated Misurata and declared a ceasefire on the western front. However, rebel sources said street fighting was on in the centre of the town.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, EU and NATO leaders, Arab League and leaders from African Union are scheduled to join talks in London to ratchet up pressure on Gaddafi and to chalk out an agreement on Libya's future. The London meet will also decide on the scope of NATO-led coalition airstrikes and to more clearly define the extent of cooperation between Libya's opposition groups and International Military Commanders.In a related development, Britain has thus become the third country to recognise the Libyan Transitional National Council after France and Qatar. British Prime Minister David Cameron and French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday issued a joint statement supporting the interim National Transitional Council.