Coalition forces strafe Libyan towns

Coalition forces strafed positions held by troops loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi east and southwest of the capital Tripoli late Friday, state television said.

"Military and civilian areas in the Al Khums and Al Rojban regions were targeted in raids by the Western assailants, crusaders and colonialists," the television station said.

An Al Khums resident told AFP he heard explosions coming from a local naval base, about 120 kilometres (70 miles) east of the capital, which had been bombed by coalition forces earlier.

Al Rojban is southwest of Tripoli and several towns in the mountainous area are controlled by rebel forces. Residents last week reported "very intense" attacks by forces loyal to Kadhafi.

Forces loyal to Kadhafi meanwhile attacked the rebel-held city of Misrata with tanks and rocket fire on Friday, a rebel spokesman said.

"The criminal`s (Kadhafi`s) forces fired at the city with all kinds of shells, rockets and bombs," he said, denouncing "a disproportionate use of force".

He said 28 people had died in three days of fighting and dozens had been wounded including residents of other African countries.

"Today they tried to reach the port, destroying everything on their path," he added, possibly to stop outside aid from reaching the beleaguered city.

The Libyan foreign ministry said Monday that an anti-rebel offensive in Misrata had been stopped after security was restored.

Source: ANTARA