At least 26 were killed and over 40 were wounded after forces loyal to Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi pounded the rebellious city of Benghazi on Saturday, the Al Jazeera TV channel said.
Gaddafi’s forces, in tanks and trucks, entered the rebel stronghold; artillery and rockets bombarded its neighborhoods. Some of the shells hit civilian areas, wounding women and children.
The Libyan government has said it was respecting the truce it announced on Friday and said rebels were raiding villages and towns to draw in the West.
Leaders from the United States, Britain, France and Arab countries are meeting in Paris today to discuss ways to act on the resolution authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect civilians.
U.S. President Barack Obama earlier said Gaddafi must stop the violence or face military action.
MOSCOW, March 19 (RIA Novosti)