France to intensify Libya air strikes

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France to intensify Libya air strikes

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France promised Libyan rebels on Wednesday it would intensify air strikes on Gaddafi's forces.

21 April,2011 12:25 am

France promised Libyan rebels on Wednesday it would intensify air strikes on Muammar Gaddafis forces and send military liaison officers to help them as fighting raged in the besieged city of Misrata.French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has spearheaded UN-backed NATO intervention, pledged stronger military action at his first meeting with the leader of the opposition Libyan National Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil.Muammar Gaddafis forces and send military liaison officers to help them as fighting raged in the besieged city of Misrata.Rebels said they fought pro-government troops for control of a main road in the port city of 300,000 that is the insurgents’ last stronghold in the west of the country. Five civilians were killed in mortar attacks in Misrata on Wednesday, medical workers said. Eight people had been killed on Tuesday, mostly civilians, rebels said.Hundreds of people are believed to have been killed in Misrata, where aid groups say the humanitarian situation is worsening due to a lack of food and medical supplies.Evidence surfaced on Wednesday that Gaddafis government is dodging UN sanctions to import gasoline to western Libya using intermediaries who transfer the fuel between ships in Tunisia.