DHUHEIBA border crossing, Libya - an old Libyan rebel for 18 years with an assault rifle supported against his knee scans a string of mountains through binoculars for signs of troops of Muammar al-Gaddafi.
He keeps the border Dhuheiba crossing, a strategic conduct for the rebels to send their families and their wounded in Tunisia and move the supplies in cities in the West the Libya Nafusa mountains.
Since the rebels captured the crossing at April 21, Gaddafi loyalists tried repeatedly to resume, it bombing of nearby mountains, most recently during the weekend, but the rebels held their ground.
Their red, green and black pre-Gaddafi flag flutters proudly on the border post. A motley crew of civilians-turned-fighters directs traffic from the border and records the names of those passing through. On Sunday, they opened a path for a race of ambulance of the Tunisian side with wounded from Zintan, a city of mountain where 10 rebels were killed and 30 wounded during a battle of weekend with the forces of the regime.
Control of the crossing has transformed Tunisia into a rear base and helps the rebels hold against the troops of Gadhafi - in the mountains with the coastal town of Misrata the only area of resistance in the West of the Libya.
Thousands of women and children of Nafusa cities found refuge in camps and with families in Tunisia. Wounded veterans are treated free of charge in the Tunisian hospitals. Trucks delivering supplies of Tunisia to Nafusa.
Tunisia has tried to avoid taking sides, attention to not have drawn into the conflict only four months after that his own successful revolt triggered a wave of revolt against the Government of the Arab world. The Libya rebellion against Gaddafi broke out just a month after their dictator of long date, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali launched the Tunisian.
"We will not to get involved in a war with a country confronted with big problems", Minister Tunisian Béji Caid Essebsi said Sunday on Tunisian television.
Stay on the sidelines not always possible, however. Dozens of shells have exceeded their targets, including one on Saturday, 80 landing in Tunisia, near the town of Dhuheiba of the border. After an attempt failed to resume the crossing last month, Libyan forces in armoured vehicles fled to Tunisia, have been disarmed by Tunisian and returned troops in Libya.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Tunisia summoned Ambassador Libyan two weeks earlier and required that the Gaddafi regime respects the Tunisian sovereignty. Over the weekend, he deplored a "lack of seriousness of the commitment made by the Libyan authorities."
Libyan and rebel civilians, Tunisia offers a brief respite from the trauma of the war.
Small clinic in the Dhuheiba, now led by the Tunisian army, is the first stop for the injured before they are taken to Tunisian hospitals later.
On Sunday, a 28 from years of Zintan was brought in with blood filter a dirty bandage on his right hand. He had been shot towards the end of a battle a day Saturday, which said, ended with the forces of Gaddafi being pushed back.
The Hunter, a waistcoat of camouflage on her white dress traditional, said the rebels were better motivated than their enemies because they were defending their homes.
"I am also fighting for a better life", he said, noting that it is unemployment despite a university degree in business administration.
Like other Libyan interviewed on the border, he spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals by the Gaddafi regime.
Most of the men of Zintan have joined the fight, he said, including her 57-year old father. The old man was also wounded Saturday, a ball in the basin and arrives at Dhuheiba in the same ambulance as his son.
Clinical of Zintan is submerged and underequipped, said the young man, suggesting that combatants who died Saturday were recorded with appropriate treatment.
Random bombing of civilian areas and persistent rumours that Gaddafi rape of women troops pushed thousands flee Nafusa region. More than 50,000 Libyan have streamed in the South of the Tunisia by the passage of Dhuheiba since the fighting began in mid-February, said Andrew Harper of the UN refugee agency.
The New York - based Human Rights Watch said the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, such as a boss, violate the laws of war. He said Libyan refugees Nafusa region has been "consistent and credible accounts" such attacks.
Moussa Ibrahim Libyan Government spokesman rejected the report. "Human Rights Watch needs to grow up," said, and "" stop us crimes accusing sitting somewhere in Europe... listen to suspicious telephone calls by some eyewitnesses false. "" He said that the Group should establish an Office in Tripoli.
Several tents for refugees camps have been implemented in Tunisian cities, including Ramada, about 25 miles (40 km) from the border.
Remada camp, about 20 women sitting on the floor of a larger communal tent watched TV, updates to the Libya waiting on Al Jazeera.
A girl of 14 years, sitting cross-legged, had draped a flag homemade rebel on his shoulders, saying: he he comforted. The girl, who gave his first name: Sarah, said to his father and most of the male parents remained in Nalut fight, adding that she had not heard of them since she and others had fled two weeks ago. Nalut, stories of rape that she had heard of Western Libyan cities that have fallen to the forces of Gaddafi keep her awake at night, she said.
In another tent, stifling the Sun of the desert and swarms of flies, a 17-year-old girl said that she spoke last of her fiancé of 24 years, one of Veterans Zintan, a week ago. Three of his brothers have also joined the battle, she said. A day earlier, she learned that a cousin had been killed.
More than 3,000 refugees are in camps, but most are in Tunisian homes. Family ties reached the border - many sides belong to the ethnic minority Berbers - but other Tunisian invited foreigners in their homes. Generosity is particularly remarkable because the region is one of the poorest in Tunisia, with double-digit unemployment.
In the town of Tataouine, a group of volunteers said he found host for refugees 805 families and gives them basic products such as noodles, milk, layers and mattresses, all given. The UN also began to distribute supplies, and representatives of aid stated that the international community must do more for refugees.
Back at the border post, Professor of computer science Morad Hamed and engineer Morad Mehdi former presidents sat, also mount the guard, their rifles at their sides. Wearing a jacket with the insignia of the club of football of Chelsea, Hamed, 28, said he misses his old life and his wife pregnant, which he has not seen for two months.
But he added that there is no going back.
"We are fighting for our freedom," he said.
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