Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is fighting for his political survival on the eve of a confidence vote in parliament which could force him out of office.

WORLD leaders said yesterday the end is near for Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and began planning for Libya’s future without the man who has held power there for 42 years.

Delegates from more than 30 countries have decided to recognise the Libyan opposition as the “legitimate authority of Libya”, according to the Italian foreign minister.

A WAR crimes prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Muammar Gaddafi yesterday, accusing him of killing protesters against his 41-year rule.

The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor is to seek arrest warrants for three senior Libyans he says are responsible for the murder and persecution of civilians during the crackdown by Muammar Gaddafi’s regime on anti-government rebels.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi taunted Nato, saying he was alive despite a series of air strikes and “in a place where you can’t get to and kill me”.

Muammar Gaddafi may have fled Tripoli and there are reports that he has been hurt, the Italian Foreign Minister said today.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI’S regime reacted angrily to a NATO-led decision to provide funding to the three-month-old rebellion against his rule in Libya, describing as “piracy” plans to tap its assets frozen abroad.

The United States is trying to free up some of the more than $30bn (€20.5bn) it has frozen in Libyan assets so it can support the rebels, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton told a conference today.

Removing Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is the best way to protect Libya's civilians, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she has “no idea” what she and the rest of the US national security team were watching at the precise moment that a photographer snapped what has become a classic image of the operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

Nato powers rejected Muammar Gaddafi’s call for a ceasefire and negotiations today, saying they need “actions not words,” and aid ships were prevented from docking in a besieged coastal city while the alliance swept the port for mines.

THE UN has sent food for 50,000 people to west Libya as aid groups scrambled to reach trapped civilians and rebels put the death toll from two months of fighting at 10,000.

A train carrying Tunisian immigrants from Italy was halted at the French border today in an escalation of an international dispute over the fate of North African migrants fleeing political unrest for refuge in Europe.

Libyan rebels, backed forcefully by European leaders, rejected a ceasefire proposal by African mediators because it did not insist that Muammar Gaddafi relinquish power.

Libyan government forces battered the rebel-held city of Misrata with artillery today despite Muammar Gaddafi earlier accepting a cease-fire deal.

Libyan rebels today recaptured most of a strategic oil town that has repeatedly changed hands in weeks of battles.

ITALY has shipped more than 2,000 migrants to detention camps on the mainland, relieving pressure on a tiny island off Sicily overwhelmed by boats full of illegal arrivals from North Africa.

Italy has shipped more than 2,000 migrants to detention camps on the mainland, relieving pressure on a tiny island off Sicily overwhelmed by boats full of illegal arrivals from North Africa.

PREMIER Silvio Berlusconi has promised to evacuate the thousands of North African migrants who have overwhelmed the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, earning cheers from residents exasperated by the arrivals.

Silvio Berlusconi’s defence lawyers have named Hollywood star George Clooney, the Italian foreign minister and a bevy of showgirls as witnesses at the premier’s upcoming prostitution trial.

George Clooney has been listed as a defence witness in Silvio Berlusconi's upcoming trial.

Paul Taylor reports from Paris on the problem with NATO taking the lead on Libya

Italian officials vowed to do whatever it takes to free the crew of an Italian tugboat apparently seized by Libyan officials at Tripoli’s port as US and European airstrikes enforced a no-fly zone over Libya.

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.

LIBYAN protest leaders established a transitional “national council” yesterday in cities seized from Muammar Gaddafi, as world leaders called on him to quit and protesters closed in on Tripoli.

MILITIAS loyal to Muammar Gaddafi shot and killed protesters as they streamed from mosques and marched across the Libyan capital yesterday to demand an end to the regime.

Militias loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have opened fire on protesters streaming out of mosques and marching across the Libyan capital.

Libyans are bracing for mass protests as the rebel movement called for a new push to oust Muammar Gaddafi after a day of fierce fighting.

FOREIGN mercenaries and Libyan militiamen loyal to Muammar Gaddafi tried to roll back the uprising against his rule that has advanced closer to his stronghold in Tripoli, attacking two nearby cities in battles that killed at least 15 people.

A MAJOR rescue strategy has been launched to help an estimated 6,000 Europeans trapped in Libya to escape the country.

A Libyan army unit loyal to Muammar Gaddafi has blasted a minaret of a mosque with anti-aircraft missiles and automatic weapons injuring scores of anti-government protesters who refused to leave the area, a witness said.

Cracks in Muammar Gaddafi’s once-total rule spread rapidly across Libya today.

Heavy gunfire broke out in Tripoli today as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi tightened their grip on the capital.

EUROPE voiced fears last night about a new wave of illegal immigration after Libya threatened to break its cooperation on controlling the flow and more Tunisians landed in Italy.

The US ordered a sweeping review of access to sensitive government information today in the wake of the massive and potentially embarrassing WikiLeaks release of more than 250,000 classified documents.

FORMER European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy shot into the spotlight across Europe because he and 16 of his former colleagues were still being paid by Brussels even though they are in new jobs.

The Vatican hinted that it may use behind-the-scenes diplomacy in a bid to save the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery.

THE Vatican raised the possibility yesterday of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery.

AGREEMENT on the conditions for the €45 billion loan to Greece was just a matter of days away, the European Commission said as several countries turned against Germany and its hard line on the Mediterranean country.

Libya is refusing to issue visas for visitors from nearly every European country in an escalation of a dispute that began when Swiss authorities arrested the son of Muammar Gaddafi.

Europe appeared divided today regarding the need for airport full-body scanners today with some countries dismissing the need for tougher security measures.