More than 20 troops from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces have defected from a brigade based in southern Libya and joined the rebellion.
The defected soldiers and officers said they decided to escape as a group months ago but were unable to do so earlier because southern Libya is tightly controlled by Gaddafi's troops.
They said many other officers and soldiers who tried to defect had been captured. One of the officers, Captain Ahmed Salah al Tabouwi, showed a battered national identification card which confirmed his name and date of birth. Defections of army officers and government officials have put additional pressure on Gaddafi.
The rebel leadership in Benghazi has said all Gaddafi loyalists who decide to surrender will be pardoned and given a chance to start a new life under its rule.