The western Libyan city of Misrata has come under heavy bombardment by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.
A rebel spokesman has said that 'Gaddafi's brigades started random bombardment in the early hours of this morning.'
He continued: 'The bombardment is still going on. They targeted the city centre, mainly Tripoli Street, and three residential areas.'
Earlier, it had been reported that government forces had retreated in Libya's coastal city of Misrata after two months of siege and had seized a rebel town Yafran in the remote Western Mountains.
One government soldier among a group of 12 being brought to hospital for treatment in Misrata, told Reuters that they had been told to withdraw yesterday.
The apparent rebel victory in Misrata, the only large city in the West where they have consistently held out, is a major development in the uprising that began in February and the government acknowledged Western air strikes had been a factor.
Rebels in that region captured a border post two days ago and had begun rushing supplies to towns under attack, saying they were cheered by reports from Misrata.
Libya's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaim, said NATO airstrikes had hit targets in Sirte, Gharyan, Aziziyah, Tripoli and Hira yesterday and denied the army had left Misrata.
