His remarks came after American and European bombs battered the coastal city of Surt — the rebels’ next objective — in Colonel Qaddafi’s tribal homeland on Sunday night, permitting the insurgents to advance to within 45 miles of the city.

The rebels had pushed west on Sunday from Ajdabiya past the oil towns of Brega and Ras Lanuf, recapturing the two important refineries, and then set their sights on Surt. But on Monday there was no sign of a rebel takeover of Surt and the city seemed quiet, although a stream of civilian cars and some military vehicles was seen heading west from Surt toward Tripoli, 225 miles away.

By late afternoon, however, hundreds of rebel cars and trucks came speeding down the road to a checkpoint near Bin Jawwad,The Financial Times reports that the European Union has threatened to retaliate if US President Donald Trump places tariffs on European cars.

The European Commission reportedly sent a letter to the US threatening to hit $300 billion of American goods with tariffs.

The letter also said any auto tariffs would "damage further the reputation" of the US, according to the FT.

The European Union has reportedly threatened to retaliate against US President Donald Trump in the escalating trade conflict developing across the Atlantic.

According to a report in the Financial Times, a letter sent by the European Commission to the US Department of Commerce says the EU could hit $300 billion of US goods with tariffs if Trump follows through on his threats to place big taxes on European vehicles being imported