LIBYAN government troops pounded the besieged rebel-held city of Misrata, undeterred by Western threats to step up military action against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

FRANCE promised Libyan rebels yesterday it would intensify air strikes on Muammar Gaddafi’s forces and send military liaison officers to help them as fighting raged in the besieged city of Misrata.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI’S forces bombarded Libya’s third largest city with artillery fire and advanced on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi as diplomatic steps to prevent him quelling a revolt ran aground.

EU leaders backed off demanding a no-fly zone over Libya, saying they would leave it up to the UN to decide, but they united in demanding that Gaddafi go and declaring he no longer represented the country or its people.