Heavy Fighting Near Libya's Misurata Airport

Rebel fighters run across a street in the besieged city of Misurata.

Heavy fighting between rebels and forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi has been reported near the airport at the western city of Misurata.

A rebel spokesman called on NATO to step up strikes on Qaddafi forces outside the city where they are concentrated after abandoning the city center to the rebels.

Elsewhere, NATO warplanes are reported to have targeted government ammunition stores near Zintan, southwest of Tripoli.

Al-Jazeera television quoted "sources" who were not further identified as saying rebels had taken control of a village called Zareek, about 25 kilometers from Misurata.

There were no further details.

compiled from agency reports