No unity in coalition as pro-Gaddafi forces shell rebel-held towns undisrupted

Fresh explosions and gunfire have been heard in the Libyan capital Tripoli, with reports saying coalition forces are targeting major military facilities across the country.

A loud explosion was heard in Tripoli early Thursday morning. Smoke was seen coming from where a military base is situated, Reuters news agency reports. This follows a series of explosions which hit the Libyan capital late on Wednesday.

Libyan officials have accused the coalition forces of killing scores of civilians, claims that the US military denies. The Libyan authorities invited journalists to a hospital in Tripoli to show them 18 bodies of military personnel and civilians, allegedly killed in the coalition attacks overnight.

The US and the allies have recently stepped up their campaign, destroying Libyan tanks and artillery. The USA announced that a no-fly zone has been successfully established over the territory of coastal Libya.

However, the efforts of the allied forces have so far proved unable to stop Muammar Gaddafi forces from shelling rebel-held towns. Pro-Gaddafi forces have pressed ahead with assaults on the towns of Misurata, Ajdabiya and Zintan, Al Jazeera reports. In Misurata snipers have reportedly killed 16 people. There are reports that opposition forces in the town are running low on food and medicine.

At the same time, within the coalition disagreement has risen over who will lead the Libyan campaign. US president Barack Obama announced that in light of other US-led wars, America is due to shed its leadership in the operation.

While some of the member states argue that the no-fly zone operation should be run by NATO, France wants the alliance to play more of a technical, secondary role. The country suggests that political control over the mission should be conducted by a group of coalition members, including the Arab League.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Wednesday that it will attend an international conference in London next Tuesday, which will include members of the Arab League and African Union. The attendants will discuss the structure of the mission’s command. Juppe stressed that the mission itself was under the UN mandate.

@RT