Misrata, LIBYA (Agencies)
Forces loyal to Libya's under-siege dictator Muammar Gaddafi shelled rebels in Misrata with civilian deaths reported as NATO's role in the conflict faced scrutiny with no endgame in sight.
The fighting in Misrata came after government troops shelled the edge of Ajdabiya, further east, forcing insurgents to retreat, and as the European Union announced measures to evacuate the wounded and provide food, water and medical supplies.
Misrata, a lone major rebel outpost in the west of the country, has been under siege by Gaddafi's forces for weeks. On Friday, insurgents said they had pushed back an assault on the eastern flank of the coastal city after fierce street battles.
The clashes occurred as a debate raged over how well NATO air forces are enforcing a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone and as a senior U.S. military officer said that he doubted that the rebels could dislodge Gaddafi.
Pressing the United Nations to allow a humanitarian mission, E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton sent a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying the 27-nation bloc was ready to come to the aid of Misrata.
"Everyone knows that we must do something and in the coming days we will have a large mobilization of the international community," a high-ranking European diplomat said earlier on condition of anonymity.
Earlier, rebels in Misrata criticized NATO for what they said was its lack of response to a relentless pounding by Gaddafi forces for more than a month.
An "unfortunate incident"NATO was already facing criticism by the opposition after its warplanes hit rebel tanks on Thursday near the oil town of Brega, killing four people, wounding 14 and leaving six others missing.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday called the bombing an "unfortunate incident."
"I strongly regret the loss of life," Rasmussen said of the strike, labeled by rebel military commander General Abdelfatah Yunis as a NATO "error."
The operation's deputy commander, British Rear Admiral Russell Harding, refused to apologize, saying the alliance was unaware rebels were using tanks and that it was becoming hard to distinguish between the two sides on the road.
The rebels said they were "not seeking an apology but an explanation."
"We are not questioning the intention of the NATO," rebel spokesman Shamsiddin Abdulmolah told AFP.
"It appears that there has been a breakdown of communication, perhaps due to the visibility on the ground... and that the positions of our tanks have not make clear to the NATO," he said.
Yunis insisted on Thursday night that the rebels had told NATO they were moving T-55 and T-72 heavy tanks from Benghazi to Brega.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu spoke of the difficulties facing alliance pilots because of Gaddafi's tactics. "The fact is they are using human shields and parking tanks next to mosques and schools so it is very hard to pinpoint any military hardware without causing civilian casualties," she said.
Little tactical headwayIn Benghazi, around 400 protesters chanted "Down with NATO" in reaction to the Brega bombing.
With little tactical headway being made by the rebels despite NATO support, General Carter Ham, head of U.S. Africa Command, said in Washington on Thursday it was unlikely they could launch an assault on Tripoli and oust Gaddafi.
Asked at a Senate hearing about the chances that the opposition could "fight their way" to Tripoli and replace Gaddafi, Ham replied: "Sir, I would assess that as a low likelihood."
His comments underscored growing concern in Washington and European capitals that the conflict is reaching a stalemate, with Gaddafi firmly in control in Tripoli and poorly organized rebels unable to turn the tide.
Washington on Friday hit Libya's premier and its oil and finance ministers with sanctions, in a fresh bid to fracture Gaddafi's inner circle.
Meanwhile, a U.N. human rights team set up to investigate alleged violations in Libya will leave on Sunday from Geneva on a field mission, the head of the team, Cherif Bassiouni said on Friday.
The 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council had unanimously decided to set up the investigation into suspected crimes against humanity after Libya's army and air force fired on civilians.
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