Kadhafi steps up assault on rebels across Libya

BENGHAZI: Moamer Kadhafi's troops unleashed a salvo of Grad rockets on towns in Libya's western mountains Saturday, killing at least nine rebels as they pressed the insurgents on several fronts, rebels said.

Forces loyal to the Libyan strongman shelled fuel depots in Misrata and dropped mines in its harbour using helicopters bearing the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems, the rebels said as they braced for a fresh ground assault.

"It seems that the more desperate Kadhafi gets the more he unleashes his firepower on the people," said Abdul Hafiz Ghoga, vice-chairman of the opposition National Transitional Council.

He said intensified shelling Saturday struck the port city of Misrata and western towns near the Tunisian border, while loyalist fighters attacked the southern oasis towns of Ojla and Jalo, which neighbour oil facilities.

Ghoga said the escalation of violence reflected a knee-jerk reaction to increased political and economic pressure after France, Britain, and Germany expelled Libyan diplomats and a trust fund was set up for rebels.

"Kadhafi's natural reaction is to wreak havoc on the population, on the civilians and the cities," he said. He said helicopters disguised as Red Cross vehicles over flew the besieged western city of Misrata on Friday, dropping anti-ship mines into the port, which is the only entry of humanitarian supplies to the city.

NATO admitted its no-fly zone had been violated on Thursday when one of the ships involved in its operations spotted a number of helicopters flying over Misrata, which came under fire from rebel forces.

A spokeswoman at the ICRC's Geneva headquarters said they had received similar reports but could not confirm them, as the organisation currently has no team on the ground.

Shelling of the city continued on Saturday although complete details of the damage were yet to emerge, Ghoga said, without providing the number of casualties. Amnesty International has said the siege of Misrata amounted to a possible war crime.

Earlier this week the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said the Kadhafi regime was committing crimes against humanity.

Libya's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaim, said Friday there would be no let-up in the government's attempts to block off the maritime lifeline to Misrata, which he said allows "ships to bring arms to the city and then to evacuate some criminals."

And Suleiman Fortiya, who represents rebels in Misrata, said they were bracing for a new ground assault on Libya's third city. "I am sure there will be a lot of fighting on the ground in the future. That is what Misrata is worried about because he (Kadhafi) is doing a big preparation to march on Misrata," he said, adding troops were massing in Zliten, outside the city. "This army will be coming from Zliten and most likely will come wearing civilian clothes."

In the western mountains towards the border with Tunisia, Kadhafi forces unleashed a salvo of Grad rockets on Zintan and Wazin, forcing an estimated 20,000 people to flee for shelter across the border, Ghoga said. (AFP)