The Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has rejected the decision by the US and other countries to recognise the rebels fighting to oust him, and has vowed never to surrender.

Muammar Gaddafi's forces pounded Misrata - the only western city still in rebel hands - with rocket fire as weary residents who have endured more than a month of fighting lashed out at Nato for failing to halt the deadly assault.

Heavy fighting raged for a second day around a key front-line city as rebels struggled to keep control of a buffer zone protecting their main eastern strongholds.

Libyan government soldiers and rebel gunmen battled in the streets of a key front-line city today.

A Pakistani man today confessed to attacking the US cultural centre in Calcutta, as he was dying after a shoot-out with Indian police, the Indian government said.