MISRATA, Libya — A Libyan rebel spokesman said opposition forces were battling troops loyal to Moammar Gadhafi on Saturday in the western city of Zawiya. It was the first major fighting in the oil port since government troops crushed opposition forces there in March.

Guma el-Gamaty, a London-based spokesman for the rebels’ national council, says the opposition fighters were in control of a large area on the western side of the city.

A rebel fighter who fled Zawiya at the end of March said “there are clashes inside Zawiya itself.”

The rebel, who identified himself only as Kamal, said “the fighters are back in the city” and that he had spoken with them.

Zawiya had been the closest city to the capital Tripoli to fall into rebel hands.