Fighting flares in Libya as Kadhafi spurns truce

TRIPOLI: fighting erupted around the town and Misrata rebel airstrikes were reported elsewhere in Libya on Friday night, after the regime of Muammar Gaddafi has rejected a rebel offer of a ceasefire.

The U.S. military was ready to withdraw its fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles from the air campaign against the regime of Libya from this weekend, as NATO allies to take the lead in bombardment forces Gaddafi.

The move follows the commitments made by President Barack Obama to quickly shift the command of the NATO operation, with the U.S. military plays a supporting role - to provide aircraft for mid-air refueling, the interference and surveillance.

Coalition forces, meanwhile, strafed positions held by loyalist forces in Al and Al Khums Rojban regions east and south-west of the capital Tripoli on Friday night, according to Libyan state television.

Al Khums a resident told AFP he heard explosions coming from a local naval base, about 120 kilometers (70 miles) east of the capital, which had been bombed by coalition forces earlier.

Al Rojban is south-west of Tripoli and several towns in the mountainous region are controlled by rebel forces. (AFP)