NATO has sunk eight Libyan warships and intercepted a fuel tanker it believed was heading for the military, the alliance said, in a marked escalation of a Western-led bombing campaign.

A defiant Muammar Gaddafi has promised victory over the international coalition amid continued wrangling about who will take command of enforcing the no-fly zone.

FORCES loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are bringing civilians from nearby towns to the rebel-held city of Misrata to use as human shields, a rebel spokesman said.