NATO planes foil attack on Misrata port

NATO planes pounded Muammar Gaddafi’s forces attacking the rebel-held city of Misrata, destroying armour advancing on the port that is the besieged city’s sole lifeline.

The battle for Misrata has become the focal point of the uprising against the Libyan leader’s regime. The near-constant shelling of the city by government troops over the past two months has spurred calls for more forceful international intervention.

“NATO forces moved quickly to break up a force advancing on Misrata port,” said a spokesperson.

“Several NATO aircraft were directed to the area, and following careful assessment of the risk to civilians, our pilots struck.”

Six military vehicles and seven technicals — civilian trucks equipped with machine guns or rocket launchers — were hit. One surface-to-air missile site was also destroyed.

With Gaddafi’s troops besieging the city on all sides by land, the port has become a key point in the battle for Misrata, and the assault yesterday temporarily suspended the flow of aid and people.

An Albanian passenger ferry, Red Star 1, carrying aid and two ambulances was forced to spend the night at sea. When it docked, workers unloaded its containers of aid and prepared to take on refugees looking to flee the city.