Gaddafi forces increase bombardment as Nato moves closer to involvement

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.

Western diplomats, meanwhile, said an agreement was emerging about Nato taking control of the Libyan no-fly zone after the United States, which has effectively commanded the operation until now, repeated that it was committed to the transition.