Rebels in Libya are struggling to hold their front line after Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces recaptured several towns in the east of the country. The rebels have now lost the key oil port of Ras Lanuf and the nearby town of Bin Jawad. However reports say the fighting is continuing in the area. In the west, the rebel-held town of Misrata is still coming under attack from pro-Gaddafi troops. US President Barack Obama earlier said he did not rule out arming the rebels. Mr Obama also told reporters that Col Gaddafi had been greatly weakened by the coalition air strikes and would ultimately step down. In a separate development, an international conference on Libya in London has agreed to set up contact group involving Arab governments to co-ordinate help for a post-Gaddafi Libya. France and the US say they are sending envoys to the rebel-held city of Benghazi in the east to liaise with the interim administration there. At least several thousand people have been killed and thousands wounded since the uprising against Col Gaddafi's rule began more than six weeks ago.