Gaddafi's old residence in Benghazi. (Al-Jazeera)

As Thursday arrived in Libya, the forces of Col. Muammar Gaddafi vowed to "cleanse" the anti-government capital of Benghazi by the end of the work week.

The thousands of Libyans who stood up to Gaddafi when they saw similar authoritarian regimes fall in Egypt and Tunisia have unsuccessfully maintained their hold on cities that they initially captured control of. They claimed minor victories Wednesday, but the larger battle may soon be taken over by international intervention.

Overmatched in battlefield intelligence and weaponry, the rebels have been brushed back from the western edge of Libya to their strongholds in the east.

On Wednesday, hours after a Benghazi airport was bombed, Gaddafi's son Saif said Benghazi would be back in his father's control by the end of Friday.

Worries about an impending massacre if Gaddafi's troops were to begin bombing Benghazi prompted United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to call for an immediate ceasefire between the two sides.

"A campaign [by pro-Gaddafi forces] to bombard such an urban center [as opposition stronghold Benghazi] would massively place civilian lives at risk," Ban said.

The U.N. Security Council has been unable to reach an agreement on a resolution for intervention in Libya. Though France, Lebanon and Great Britain have been among those countries supporting a no-fly zone over Libya, they have met resistance from China and Russia with world powers such as the United States sitting in the middle because a no-fly zone may longer be enough.

The sides continue work to draft a resolution, but it's unclear if a vote could be squeezed in before Gaddafi's tanks and airplanes take aim at Benghazi. Russia, which has veto power over any resolution, was prepared to accept a no-fly zone only if a ceasefire failed to take hold. The U.S. appears ready to impose a no-drive zone, meaning it would be willing to launch airstrikes on Gaddafi tanks.

"Let's save the martyred Libyan people together," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. "Time is now counted in days, or even hours. The worst would be for the Arab League's call and the Security Council's decisions to fail because of armed force."

With the imminent attack expected, the Red Cross, other aid organizations and the media pulled out of Benghazi.

Reported the BBC:

In a statement, the organization said humanitarian activities in Benghazi would now be carried out by the Libyan Red Crescent, which had been left with food and essential items to cover the needs of 15,000 people for a month. 

"We are extremely concerned about what will happen to civilians, the sick and wounded, detainees and others who are entitled to protection in times of conflict," said Simon Brooks, head of the ICRC mission in Libya.  "We will remain in dialogue with both parties with a view to returning to Benghazi and the western part of the country when the security situation permits."

Speaking from Tahrir Square in Cairo on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised quick action from the U.N.

"We are moving as rapidly as we can in New York to see whether we can get additional authorisation for the international community to look at a broad range of actions, not just a no-fly zone but other actions as well," Clinton said.  "We won't know until there is an actual vote. We're hoping that will be no later than tomorrow [Thursday]."

Reports the L.A. Times:

There are almost no defensive fortifications around Libya's second-largest city, but opposition leaders say they would fight a guerrilla war, and Gaddafi lacks the soldiers and supply lines to triumph.

Reach deputy editor Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.