20110424
reuters

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombarded Misrata on Sunday, a day after rebels celebrated the pullback of government troops from the western Libyan city, a rebel spokesman said.

"The situation is very dangerous," rebel spokesman Abdelsalam said by telephone from Misrata. "Gaddafi's brigades started random bombardment in the early hours of this morning. The bombardment is still going on."

Captured government troops said on Saturday they had been ordered to retreat from Misrata -- the only major rebel-held city in western Libya -- after a siege of nearly two months, and rebels fighting to overthrow Gaddafi had claimed victory.

But on Sunday, government forces bombarded three residential areas and the city centre, including Tripoli Street, the thoroughfare which has been the scene of intense fighting in recent weeks, Abdelsalam said. Another rebel spokesman, Ahmed Hassan, said at least one person was killed and 12 wounded.

Hundreds have been killed in the fighting for Misrata, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis in the besieged city.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov phoned Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi on Saturday to urge Tripoli to implement United Nations Security Council resolutions and end attacks on civilians.

"Lavrov said that the most important issue now is to stop the bloodshed and sufferings of the civilian population," the Russian foreign ministry said on its website on Sunday.

But rebels in their eastern stronghold Benghazi said they had no expectations of an early end to fighting in Misrata.