Gaddafi forces bombard Misrata after ceasefire offer by Gaddafi

Gaddafi forces bombard Misrata after ceasefire offer by Gaddafi

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have bombarded the rebel-held city of Misrata with mortars on Thursday, increasing doubts about the credibility of a fresh ceasefire offered by Gaddafi.

The bombardment of Misrata was the heaviest for days and came as Western leaders, gathering for a G-8 summit in the French seaside resort of Deauville, were expected to reiterate their determination to force Gaddafi out.

Spain said it was one of several foreign states contacted by Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi with an offer of an immediate ceasefire.

Offer not credible

But White House deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, speaking in Deauville at the G-8 summit, said the United States did not see the new Libyan ceasefire offer as credible because it was not accompanied by action.

“Libya is not complying with UN demands and its forces are still attacking population centres, so the United States will continue with the military campaign,” he told reporters.

Rebel spokesmen in Misrata, scene of some of the fiercest fighting in Libya's three-month-old conflict, said the mortar attack killed three rebels.

Fighters have continued to mourn their dead colleague at Misrata's hospital, as sound of exploding mortar shells are heard every few minutes in the western outskirts of Misrata.

One of the rebels,Suleim Al-Faqih, said the clashes started when rebels attacked pro-Gaddafi forces who were using an excavator to dig a trench to block a road.

"We fired on them and advanced. They fell back and started firing mortars," he said.

Ceasefire offer

At a news conference in Tripoli, Al-Mahmoudi said the offer was based on an existing African Union "roadmap" to resolve the conflict, which does not include any mention of Gaddafi's own future -- a crucial sticking point.

"Libya is serious about a ceasefire," he said.

"The leader Muammar Gaddafi is the leader of the Libyan people; he decides what the Libyan people think. He is in the hearts of the Libyan people. If he departs, then so do all the Libyan people," he added.

Gaddafi exit as first step

The rebels said they wanted any government initiative to include the Libyan leader's departure as a first step.

Head of the rebel Transitional National Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, in a televised interview with Aljazeera said: "We welcome any initiative which starts with the departure of Gaddafi, his sons and his regime from Libya."

He said that the rebels would welcome any initiative that contains this point as a first step.

US president had on Wednesday, while addressing the British Parliament said that the US would not ease pressure on Gaddafi, but stressed that the Libyan people will fight for their freedom.

Williams