1725: A UK resident who has recently returned from Zawiya but does not wish to be named has just told the BBC: "I spoke to one of my trusted friends in Zawiya about two hours ago. He'd had to drive 30km out of Zawiya to get reception to call me - the phone was not his. He said there were hundreds of troops on the street searching people, asking questions, taking away mobile phones, money, laptops, memory sticks. House-to-house searches are frequent and violent."
1725: A UK resident who has recently returned from Zawiya but does not wish to be named has just told the BBC: "I spoke to one of my trusted friends in Zawiya about two hours ago. He'd had to drive 30km out of Zawiya to get reception to call me - the phone was not his. He said there were hundreds of troops on the street searching people, asking questions, taking away mobile phones, money, laptops, memory sticks. House-to-house searches are frequent and violent."
1529: Fighting in the western city of Zintan, near the border with Tunisia, has now subsided, an eyewitness has told BBC Arabic. The witness, Abdul, said: "Right now, it is calmer than it was in the morning, when there was fighting and shelling in the east of the city. Those Gaddafi forces have now withdrawn. However, 50 to 60 tanks have massed at the northern entrance to the city. Gaddafi's forces have also cut off the electricity."
1457: If the Arab world remains uneasy about the no-fly zone, there is little sign of reluctance among the Libyan rebels. The Libya desk at the BBC World Service has learned that representatives of the rebels' Transitional national Council in Benghazi have called a protest for Tuesday evening against Russia's calls for the air strikes and the no-fly zone to be suspended. They expect a significant turn-out. One resident told the BBC: "We are happy about air strikes. Without them Benghazi would have been destroyed. Gaddafi's forces brought long line of tanks with weapons to destroy us. Without French air strikes on Saturday, we would be dead. We think it's a good step. The UN is helping us." Another said: "We are happy the coalition strikes are here. It saved Benghazi from absolute disaster."
President Obama has called the Emir of Qatar, and underscored Qatar's contribution to the Libya mission, the White House has added
1230: More from the Libyan doctor in Misrata: The children of a colleague were killed by Col Gaddafi's forces on Tuesday morning, "two boys and two girls. The situation is so serious. In my hospital here, we have no electricity and we work with a generator." The doctor added he had not been in touch with his family for 10 days and did not know how they were. He says he lives in the hospital, where water and medical supplies are running low. "In one or two days, we can go home, because we won't be able to do more than normal people can do. We are relieved to hear about the air strikes and the coalition forces, but on the ground we are dying every day."
1107: ShababLibya tweets: "1 of Gaddafi millitia caught in Zitan confessed they are being paid LYD 600 for each dead body they bring back to Tripoli" #Libya."
More on the reported fighting in Misrata. A spokesman in the rebel-held town says that pro-Gaddafi forces killed five people, four of them children, on Tuesday, the AFP reports.
0934: Othman writes: "My family are in Tripoli right now, and I can tell you that the vast majority of the Libyan people are united against Gaddafi and his murderous regime. We are in full support and appreciative of current international action, and hope that they don't hesitate in targeting him. People in Tripoli are frightened to express this though due to a complete lockdown by Gaddafi thugs. When this is over I can guarantee that the streets of Tripoli will be full of people celebrating." Have Your Say
0934: Othman writes: "My family are in Tripoli right now, and I can tell you that the vast majority of the Libyan people are united against Gaddafi and his murderous regime. We are in full support and appreciative of current international action, and hope that they don't hesitate in targeting him. People in Tripoli are frightened to express this though due to a complete lockdown by Gaddafi thugs. When this is over I can guarantee that the streets of Tripoli will be full of people celebrating." Have Your Say
A doctor in Misrata, who wanted to remain anonymous, tells the BBC: "This is the fifth or sixth consecutive day of shelling the city. Our clinic is full of patients. We have no more beds to treat the patients. There is no light in the city. There has been no communication for 10 days and no water for more than one week. And still the heavy shelling continues. The situation is so serious. The international community must take responsibility. Since yesterday we have received 125 injured including an entire family with four children, shot in their car while trying to leave. Even my medical resources are running out. We can't sustain this any more."
0842: ChangeInLibya tweets: "Gaddafi is blowing up buildings in Tripoli randomly to make people think its coalition jets :/ #libya #feb17."
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