Libyan tanks launch assault on Misrata

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MISRATA: Libyan government tanks launched an assault Friday on Misrata, rebels said, as NATO reported its warships had stopped Moamer Kadhafi's forces from laying mines in the besieged city's harbour.

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.

"Four tanks attacked the city and one has been destroyed so far," said Ibrahim Ahmed Boushagha, a rebel fighter who accompanied a wounded man back from the front in Misrata.

"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.

A constant stream of casualties was brought in to the city's main hospital, with several rebels saying the men had been wounded in a counter-attack by regime forces. (AFP)