Libyan government tanks launched an assault on rebel-held Misrata as the regime of Moamer Kadhafi threatened to hit any ships entering the lifeline port.
The sea port is a crucial conduit for humanitarian aid to the western city of half a million people about 215 kilometres (130 miles) east of Tripoli, which Kadhafi forces have been trying to capture for more than seven weeks.
"Four tanks attacked the city and one has been destroyed so far," said rebel fighter Ibrahim Ahmed Boushagha on Friday.
"They took up positions during the night on the airport road, and tried to enter the city. We've stopped them at the outer limits, at least for now."
He said his group had come under mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire, and three or four of them were wounded.
AFP journalists reported hearing whistling sounds followed by a volley of detonations from the direction of the airport, with an enormous plume of grey smoke rising over the area.
A constant stream of casualties flowed into the main hospital in Misrata, where fighting has intensified 10 weeks after Kadhafi's forces launched a deadly crackdown on protests inspired by regime-changing movements in Tunisia and Egypt.
The Libyan leader's regime said later it would attack "with force" any ship that enters the port of Misrata, saying all aid should now be sent by road and under the supervision of the Libyan army.
State television also said the military had "put the port out of service," and that delivery of humanitarian aid to Misrata should now be carried out "overland and under the supervision of the armed forces."
NATO said three mines were found in the port early Friday and were being disarmed.
"The mining of a civilian port by pro-Kadhafi forces is clearly designed to disrupt the lawful flow of humanitarian aid to the innocent civilian people of Libya," said Italian Navy Vice Admiral Rinaldo Veri, calling it another "deliberate violation" of UN security Council resolutions.
In Washington, the State Department said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would attend a Libya Contact Group May 4-6 meeting in Rome to discuss how to help the rebels and protect civilians caught in the cross-fire.
The group composed of Western countries, Turkey, Arab states, the United Nations, the Arab League and NATO, was set up in London on March 29.
Earlier, fierce clashes and continuous explosions were heard in Misrata's suburbs, an AFP journalist said. The hospital reported a toll of two dead and 16 wounded.
Dr Khalid Abu Falra of the city's medical committee said a small clinic in the western suburbs also reported at least three deaths.
"All of our operating theatres are full," he said. "NATO must quickly intervene, as in previous days."
The airport battle, just southwest of the Misrata city limits, followed overnight barrages of rocket and mortar fire by Kadhafi's forces on the city, about 215 kilometres (130 miles), east of Tripoli.
Western Misrata also came under seemingly indiscriminate mortar and rocket fire on Friday as a NATO warplane flew overhead, witnesses and medics said.
Forces loyal to Kadhafi, who has been in power for more than four decades, were pushed back from Misrata by the rebels and a series of NATO air strikes on Monday, but had remained within rocket range of the city.
The rebels said earlier in the week they had secured the port and that their next objective was to seize control of the airport from government troops.
"Attack is the best form of defence," said Ibrahim Bet-Almal, who heads the rebel military forces in the area. "Kadhafi is sending reinforcements to the region every day."
British Brigadier Rob Weighill, director of NATO operations in Libya, said NATO warships stopped pro-Kadhafi forces on Friday from laying water mines in Misrata's harbour.
"Our ships intercepted the small boats that were laying them and we are disposing the mines that we found," Weighill told reporters via videoconference from his headquarters in Naples, Italy.
"It again shows his complete disregard for international law and his willingness to attack humanitarian delivery efforts," he said.
In western Libya, the alliance said meanwhile its warplanes would focus on Kadhafi forces threatening the towns of Zintan and Yefren, scenes of heavy fighting between regime and rebel forces.
"We can see that there's a lot of offensive operations being conducted by pro-Kadhafi forces in the areas of Zintan and Yefren and clearly that's going to be a focus for us," Weighill said.
Fierce fighting which had raged for days for control of the Dehiba border crossing into Tunisia, meanwhile, hit a lull on Friday, but armed rebels were on guard in expectation of a new offensive, witnesses said.
They said the post was firmly in the hands of the rebels, who retook it late Thursday in clashes that killed eight loyalist soldiers only hours after Kadhafi forces had overrun it.
A Tunisian police source said 5,150 people had crossed from Libya into Tunisia at Dehiba within 48 hours as the fighting raged.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, meanwhile, condemned the regime's reported use of banned cluster bombs against civilians, and called for an immediate ceasefire as well as full humanitarian access.
The sea port is a crucial conduit for humanitarian aid to the western city of half a million people about 215 kilometres (130 miles) east of Tripoli, which Kadhafi forces have been trying to capture for more than seven weeks.
"Four tanks attacked the city and one has been destroyed so far," said rebel fighter Ibrahim Ahmed Boushagha on Friday.
"They took up positions during the night on the airport road, and tried to enter the city. We've stopped them at the outer limits, at least for now."
He said his group had come under mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire, and three or four of them were wounded.
AFP journalists reported hearing whistling sounds followed by a volley of detonations from the direction of the airport, with an enormous plume of grey smoke rising over the area.
A constant stream of casualties flowed into the main hospital in Misrata, where fighting has intensified 10 weeks after Kadhafi's forces launched a deadly crackdown on protests inspired by regime-changing movements in Tunisia and Egypt.
The Libyan leader's regime said later it would attack "with force" any ship that enters the port of Misrata, saying all aid should now be sent by road and under the supervision of the Libyan army.
State television also said the military had "put the port out of service," and that delivery of humanitarian aid to Misrata should now be carried out "overland and under the supervision of the armed forces."
NATO said three mines were found in the port early Friday and were being disarmed.
"The mining of a civilian port by pro-Kadhafi forces is clearly designed to disrupt the lawful flow of humanitarian aid to the innocent civilian people of Libya," said Italian Navy Vice Admiral Rinaldo Veri, calling it another "deliberate violation" of UN security Council resolutions.
In Washington, the State Department said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would attend a Libya Contact Group May 4-6 meeting in Rome to discuss how to help the rebels and protect civilians caught in the cross-fire.
The group composed of Western countries, Turkey, Arab states, the United Nations, the Arab League and NATO, was set up in London on March 29.
Earlier, fierce clashes and continuous explosions were heard in Misrata's suburbs, an AFP journalist said. The hospital reported a toll of two dead and 16 wounded.
Dr Khalid Abu Falra of the city's medical committee said a small clinic in the western suburbs also reported at least three deaths.
"All of our operating theatres are full," he said. "NATO must quickly intervene, as in previous days."
The airport battle, just southwest of the Misrata city limits, followed overnight barrages of rocket and mortar fire by Kadhafi's forces on the city, about 215 kilometres (130 miles), east of Tripoli.
Western Misrata also came under seemingly indiscriminate mortar and rocket fire on Friday as a NATO warplane flew overhead, witnesses and medics said.
Forces loyal to Kadhafi, who has been in power for more than four decades, were pushed back from Misrata by the rebels and a series of NATO air strikes on Monday, but had remained within rocket range of the city.
The rebels said earlier in the week they had secured the port and that their next objective was to seize control of the airport from government troops.
"Attack is the best form of defence," said Ibrahim Bet-Almal, who heads the rebel military forces in the area. "Kadhafi is sending reinforcements to the region every day."
British Brigadier Rob Weighill, director of NATO operations in Libya, said NATO warships stopped pro-Kadhafi forces on Friday from laying water mines in Misrata's harbour.
"Our ships intercepted the small boats that were laying them and we are disposing the mines that we found," Weighill told reporters via videoconference from his headquarters in Naples, Italy.
"It again shows his complete disregard for international law and his willingness to attack humanitarian delivery efforts," he said.
In western Libya, the alliance said meanwhile its warplanes would focus on Kadhafi forces threatening the towns of Zintan and Yefren, scenes of heavy fighting between regime and rebel forces.
"We can see that there's a lot of offensive operations being conducted by pro-Kadhafi forces in the areas of Zintan and Yefren and clearly that's going to be a focus for us," Weighill said.
Fierce fighting which had raged for days for control of the Dehiba border crossing into Tunisia, meanwhile, hit a lull on Friday, but armed rebels were on guard in expectation of a new offensive, witnesses said.
They said the post was firmly in the hands of the rebels, who retook it late Thursday in clashes that killed eight loyalist soldiers only hours after Kadhafi forces had overrun it.
A Tunisian police source said 5,150 people had crossed from Libya into Tunisia at Dehiba within 48 hours as the fighting raged.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, meanwhile, condemned the regime's reported use of banned cluster bombs against civilians, and called for an immediate ceasefire as well as full humanitarian access.
Copyright 2011 AFP Global Edition
