Libyan protesters in front of the embassy in Balzan have been asked to move from their usual protest spot to the fields on the opposite side of the road.

The protesters, who are about 50, were at their usual location in front of the embassy but the police today asked them to move farther across the street and into the fields.

They are arguing that they have the right to protest and to stay in their current spot. The police are, however, insisting they should move.

The protesters eventually moved away.

Libyans in Malta have been protesting in front of the embassy since the start of the conflict in their country.

Today, a Libyan fighter jet carried out a screeching bombing run against anti-Gaddafi forces, hitting a rebel checkpoint and an oil refinery.

One bomb hit a building being used by the rebels 10 kilometres east of the oil town of Ras Lanouf and another hit an oil storage tank at the nearby plant, sending a massive fireball into the air.

There was no immediate news of casualties in the strike, but it came amid a heavy weapons duel between the two sides.

An AFP reporter saw the bodies of at least five dead rebels being ferried back from the fighting.

Earlier, rebels fired a salvo of at least 12 Katyushas from a multiple rocket launcher mounted on the back of a truck, and what rebels said were loyalist army shells and Grad rockets were heard exploding further west.

Rebels had been sending trucks back to round up fighters and bring them forward to challenge for the town, which was retaken yesterday by forces loyal to Gaddafi's regime one week after it fell to the revolt.

But, shortly after the airstrike, around a dozen rebel trucks appeared to be pulling back from the area. It was not immediately clear whether they were regrouping or retreating.

Shelling was continuing against rebel positions eight kilometres east of Ras Lanouf, which sits on the coast road between western Libya -- still largely in the regime's hands -- and the rebel-held east.