Nato widened its campaign to weaken Muammar Gaddafi’s regime with airstrikes on desert command centres and sea patrols to intercept ships, the military alliance said, amid signs of growing public anger over fuel shortages in government-held territory.

Zimbabwe has won approval to head a key United Nations body charged with promoting economic progress and environmental protection.

The Pan African Parliament is to debate the worsening crisis in Zimbabwe after a motion was tabled calling for an investigation into the arrest and detention of opposition activists in the southern African country.