20110418
reuters

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Western powers committed to helping rebels overthrow Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi face increasingly difficult choices on the military, economic and diplomatic front as the conflict enters its third month.

Analysts said NATO may have to intensify attacks on government forces to break the military stalemate in the North African country, while plans to help the rebels earn revenue from its oil riches are bogged down by U.N. sanctions.

The United Nations meanwhile is making slow progress in its efforts to ease the plight of civilians trapped in the conflict.

Hundreds of people are thought to have been killed in the seven-week siege of the port city of Misrata and thousands of foreign migrant workers are stranded there.

A rebel spokesman said at least 31 people had been killed there on Sunday and Monday by government shelling and snipers.

Nine weeks after the rebellion broke out, inspired by uprisings against autocratic rulers elsewhere in the Arab world, the insurgents control the east of the country from their Benghazi stronghold, but little territory in the west -- principally parts of Misrata, Libya's third city.

NATO bombing has damaged Gaddafi's armour but not enough to break the stalemate, and the alliance may have no choice but to use naval gunfire or helicopters, analysts said.

The U.S., British and French leaders said last week they would not stop military action until Gaddafi quit.