Forces loyal to Moamer Kadhafi are no longer able to launch a credible military offensive, NATO's top Libya commander told AFP Thursday, as rebels look to gain momentum in overthrowing the strongman.

"The Kadhafi regime's forces continue to be weakened, both in strength and their will to fight," Canada's Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard said, speaking from his Italy headquarters, as rebel troops made new advances.

"They are no longer able to launch a credible offensive," he added.

NATO was authorized in March by UN Security Council resolution 1973 to defend Libya's civilian population from attacks by Colonel Kadhafi's regime, which faces a popular revolt after 42 years in power.

As NATO-led airstrikes have helped the rebels on the ground without managing to decisively turn the tide in the conflict, Bouchard said Kadhafi has brought in fighters from other African countries to bolster his embattled forces.

"We're seeing lots of mercenaries, ruthless mercenaries that come from other countries and are enlisted by Kadhafi's forces to inflict extreme violence on men, women and children," Bouchard said.

"The recruiting of these mercenaries continues," he said.

"There is a growing demand for their services, which lends credibility to the fact that Kadhafi's forces are being affected by NATO's actions as well as defections of generals, policemen and even politicians."

The rebels, meanwhile, have treaded water since scoring early victories that led to their control of much of eastern Libya and some western enclaves.

Today, there's "activity" on three fronts, in Brega in the east, and in Misrata and the Nafusa mountains in the west, Bouchard said, adding that Kadhafi's forces are "shooting blindly on civilians."

"On the three fronts, we're seeing changes as anti-Kadhafi forces march forward to stop the attacks on the population," he added.

Rebels, backed by NATO helicopters, have tried for the past three weeks to seize the vital port of Brega, 240 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of their eastern stronghold Benghazi.

On Wednesday, they were poised on the eastern fringes of the city, the outskirts of its residential area, an AFP journalist saw.

"Who holds Brega controls the center part of the country and its oil fields," said Fawzi Bukatif, a civil engineer who became a top commander of the insurrection and is leading the Brega assault.

Kadhafi's regime last week accused NATO of killing 85 people, including women and children, with airstrikes on the village of Majer, south of the disputed city of Zliten, charges denied by Bouchard.

"I can assure you that the target was a legitimate one that contained mercenaries, a command center and 4x4 vehicles modified with automatic weapons, rocket launchers or mortars," Bouchard said.

"I cannot believe that 85 civilians were present when we struck in the wee hours of the morning, and given our intelligence" on the target, he added.

"I can assure you that there (were not) 85 civilians present, but I cannot assure you that there were none at all."

Libyan government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim had said Majer was attacked to try to help rebel fighters enter the government-held city from the south.

"After the first three bombs dropped at around 11:00 pm (2100 GMT) on Monday, many residents of the area ran to the bombed houses to try to save their loved ones. Three more bombs struck," he told reporters on an organized visit.

Bouchard meanwhile accused government forces of often leaving already dead corpses at military sites after they have been leveled by NATO airstrikes to make the bombings appear like blunders.

The NATO mission is due to wrap up in September unless it is extended by states participating in it, including Britain, Canada, France, Italy and the United States, all of whom are under increasing fiscal pressure to pull back.

And if the mission "Unified Protector" is not renewed?

"It's just speculation," said Bouchard. "My goal is to bring this conflict to an end before the mission is over."

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