Gaddafi troops shell mountain towns

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddhafi’s loyalists shelled a mountain town and clashed with opposition forces in a besieged coastal city today as the Libyan leader sought to quell resistance in the western part of the country that is largely under his control.

France and Italy, meanwhile, promised more support for Libya’s opposition, saying they would join Britain in sending military advisers to help the rebels break a battlefield stalemate. France said it would also intensify airstrikes against Libyan military targets after a month of Nato airstrikes failed to rout Gaddafi’s forces.