African Union mediators on Libya have reiterated their appeal for "an immediate end to all hostilities" and proposed a transition period to adopt reforms as intense fighting continues across the country.
The panel, headed by Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, is expected to head to the opposition stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya later on Sunday.
Comprised of five African leaders who are acting as AU mediators, the panel said in a statement that it had decided to go along with a roadmap adopted in March, which calls for an end to hostilities, "diligent conveying of humanitarian aid" and "dialogue between the Libyan parties".
It also said it intended to propose "inclusive management" of a transition period aimed at adopting and setting up of "the political reforms needed to eliminate the causes of the present crisis."
Fighting rages
The development comes a day after rebels fought off a new assault by Muammar Gaddafi's forces on the besieged western city of Misurata, losing up to 30 men.
Mustafa Abdulrahman, a rebel spokesman, said Saturday's fighting centred on a road to Misurata port, while NATO carried out several attacks on forces loyal to the Libyan leader.
Abdulrahman praised what he called a positive change from NATO. Rebels have complained for days that NATO has been too slow to respond to government attacks.
NATO said armoured vehicles firing on civilians had been targeted in air strikes, and that its jets had also struck ammunition stockpiles being used to resupply forces involved in the shelling of Misurata and other population centres.
A rebel who identified himself as Abdelsalem told Reuters that government troops had attacked Miusrata on three fronts.
"Medical workers and rebels told me that at least 30 rebel fighters were killed," he said.
Residents fleeing
Misurata, Libya's third largest city, has been under siege by Gaddafi's forces for weeks. Rebels say people are crammed five families to a house in the few safe districts to escape weeks of sniper, mortar and rocket fire.
There are severe shortages of food, water and medical supplies and hospitals are overflowing.
Residents used boats to flee to the eastern city of Benghazi on Saturday.
"There is not a word in the dictionary to describe this. 'Disaster' is not enough," Ali Spak, the captain of one of the ships, said.
"There is very bad destruction. This man [Gaddafi] is killing his own people. There's shelling everywhere, even on the people trying to leave. People need help," one man on the boat said.
Doctors said last week that 200 people had been killed in Misurata since fighting broke out there in late February.
The Red Cross on Saturday ferried emergency medical supplies and five staff for 300 people wounded in the city.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, the commander of the alliance's operations in Libya, accused Gaddafi's forces of using civilians as human shields, adding to similar charges made by other Western commanders.
"We have observed horrific examples of regime forces deliberately placing their weapons systems close to civilians, their homes and even their places of worship," Bouchard said in a statement.
"Troops have also been observed hiding behind women and children. This type of behaviour violates the principles of international law and will not be tolerated."
Ajdabiya shelled
Gaddafi forces also shelled rebel positions west of Ajdabiya on Saturday.
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Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid, who had to turn back about 20km from Ajdabiya because of the shelling, said the town was being pounded from the north, south and west.
"Reliable military sources told us that Gaddafi's forces managed to advance overnight from the southern desert and started shelling from that area," she said.
"We are also told that there is street fighting going on inside Ajdabiya between rebels and Gaddafi loyalists. This is a very serious development because there is now fighting on two fronts – around Ajdabiya and around Brega."
Mohammed Idris, the supervisor at Ajdabiya hospital, said at least eight rebels were killed and nine people, including two civilians, were injured during the shelling by government troops and the subsequent gun battle with rebels in the streets.
As his troops engaged rebels in new fighting, Gaddafi made his first television appearance in five days. He was last seen on April 4.
Gaddafi smiled and pumped his fists in the air as he received an ecstatic welcome at a school in Tripoli, where women ululated and pupils chanted anti-western slogans.
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| Source: Al Jazeera and agencies |
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