Red Cross: Civilians worst hit by Libya attacks

Doctors in Libya are seeing a dramatic rise in the number of casualties, mostly civilians, the International Red Cross says.

Local doctors over the past few days saw “a sharp increase in the number of casualties arriving at hospitals in Ajdabiya and Misrata” where there has been heavy fighting and air strikes.

President Jakob Kellenberger said today that in Misrata 40 patients were treated for serious injuries and 22 dead were taken there.

He said the Red Cross surgical team in Ajdabiya operated on 55 wounded this past week and “civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence”.

He said the aid organisation is cut off from access in western areas including Tripoli but believes those are “even more severely affected by the fighting” than eastern rebel-held territories.

The fighting intensified on the main front line between the Mediterranean oil port of Ras Lanouf and the city of Bin Jawwad, where the rebels appeared to have established better supply lines bringing heavy weapons like multiple-rocket launcher trucks and small tanks to the battle.

Youssef Fittori, a major in the opposition force, said a mix of defectors from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s special forces and civilian rebels were fighting government forces about 12 miles west of Ras Lanouf on the main coastal road to Bin Jawwad.

“Today, God willing, we will take Bin Jawwad. We are moving forward,” he said.