Holding out under a rain of shelling and sniper fire, rebels in Misrata, their last major foothold in western Libya, fought Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in close-quarter battles in the city centre.

REBELS came under fire on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, hemming them in to their eastern outpost and denting their hopes of pushing west to try to end a stalemate in the Libyan war.

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.

Muammar Gaddafi continued bombarding rebels with rockets and artillery today as efforts to find a solution to the Libyan crisis rumbled on.

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi resumed attacks on rebels today as France demanded Nato do more to destroy the Libyan regime's heavy weapons.

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

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 forces shot down two US-built attack helicopters being used by rebel forces in the east of the country, the deputy foreign minister said today.

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

Nato has admitted its planes struck rebels using tanks in their fight with the government forces in eastern Libya.

An apparent Nato airstrike slammed into a rebel combat convoy, killing at least five fighters and sharply boosting anger among Libyan anti-government forces after the second bungled mission in a week blamed on the military alliance.

Libyan rebels have claimed that Nato air strikes hit their fighters on the front lines and touched off a retreat from the outskirts of the key oil port of Brega.

Libyan government forces have unleashed a withering bombardment on rebels outside a key oil town, pushing them back even as the regime said Muammar Gaddafi might consider some reforms but would not step down.

A Nato air strike intended to thwart Muammar Gaddafi’s forces killed 13 rebel fighters in eastern Libya, the opposition said.

A Libyan opposition leader says the rebels will accept a UN-demanded ceasefire if Muammar Gaddafi pulls his forces from all cities and allows peaceful protests.

Muammar Gaddafi struck a defiant stance after two high-profile defections from his regime, saying he was not the one who should go but the Western leaders who decimated his military with air strikes.

Libya has played down the resignation of Foreign Minister Musa Kusa says it is a personal decision driven by health problems, not a sign that the embattled regime is cracking at the highest levels.

Rebels pleaded for more help as Muammar Gaddafi's ground forces recaptured a strategic oil town and moved within striking distance of another major eastern city.

Nato is to take command of all international military operations over Libya, including air strikes on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s ground forces.

International air strikes on Libya have forced government troops to retreat, with rebels regaining control of the city of Ajdabiya.

Libyan rebels clinched their hold on the east of the country and seized back a key city today after decisive international airstrikes sent Muammar Gaddafi’s forces into retreat, shedding their uniforms and ammunition as they fled.

Libyan rebels have regained control of the eastern gateway city of Ajdabiya after international airstrikes on Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

TINY Qatar became the first Arab country to fly combat missions over Libya yesterday after NATO agreed to take command of the no-fly zone part of air operations against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

Tiny Qatar became the first Arab country to fly combat missions over Libya today after Nato agreed to take command of the no-fly zone part of air operations against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

France declared Libya’s air space “under control” today after Nato agreed to take command of the no-fly zone.

French fighter jets have shot down a Libyan plane, a US official said today.

French airstrikes have hit an air base deep inside Libya in a bid to stop arms movement or the flow of mercenaries, a military official says.

A DEFIANT Muammar Gaddafi said Libya is “ready for battle”, as Western leaders mulled yesterday their next steps on the fifth day of UN-backed military strikes on his oil-rich country.

International airstrikes forced Muammar Gaddafi's tanks back from the western city of Misrata today, giving civilians who endured more than a week of attacks a respite.

Muammar Gaddafi’s forces increased their shelling of rebels outside a strategic eastern city today as they attempted to stop them from taking advantage of the international air campaign.

Libyan rebels are struggling to take advantage of the aerial shield provided by international forces protecting them against most of Muammar Gaddafi's heavy weaponry.

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said a UN resolution authorising military action in Libya resembled “medieval calls for crusades” after Western forces launched a second wave of air strikes.

Military action against Libyan forces was under way today as British Prime Minister David Cameron declared that “the time for action has come” after dictator Muammar Gaddafi flouted his own ceasefire to mount continued attacks against his own people.

Muammar Gaddafi today said the UN resolution authorising international military intervention in Libya was “invalid”.

A warplane has been shot down outside the opposition stronghold of Benghazi, as international leaders gathered in Paris to make final preparations to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

Libya has declared an immediate ceasefire and promised to stop military operations in a bid to fend off international military intervention.

Muammar Gaddafi's regime has defiantly closed Libya's airspace to all traffic while the West makes plans to enforce a no-fly zone and prevent his forces from attacking rebels.

Britain was tonight pressing with key allies for wide-ranging powers to intervene in Libya amid warnings that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces are closing in on the key rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Libyan rebels have shot down two bombers which attacked the airport in their main stronghold, according to residents.

Libyan rebels are battling to keep Muammar Gaddafi’s forces from breaking into the key city of Ajdabiya.

Four New York Times journalists, including a Briton, have been reported missing while covering the fighting in Libya.

Libyan rebels battled to hold a strategic eastern city against a punishing offensive by forces loyal to Moammar Gaddafi, voicing anger and frustration at the West for not coming to their aid. At the same time, government troops heavily shelled the last main rebel bastion near the capital.