Rebels say 17 dead as Misrata hit by rockets

BEIRUT: Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombarded Misrata with rockets and artillery on Monday and 17 people were killed in the previous day's shelling of the besieged Libyan city, a rebel spokesman said.

"The Gaddafi forces are shelling Misrata now. They are firing rockets and artillery rounds on the eastern side – the Nakl el Theqeel (road) and the residential areas around it," Abdubasset Abu Mzeireq said from the coastal city.

He said about 100 people were also wounded in Sunday's clashes, mostly civilians. It was not possible to independently verify the information.

A U.S.-based rights group said government forces had launched indiscriminate rocket and mortar attacks on residential neighbourhoods in Misrata, including one that killed eight civilians queuing for bread last Thursday. At least 16 civilians had been killed in indiscriminate attacks since April 14, based on witness accounts and inspections of the impact sites, Human Rights Watch said in a statement from Misrata. "Another attack, apparently with a mortar round, hit a medical clinic, wounding four others," it said.

Human Rights Watch cited witnesses as saying rebel fighters were not present in those areas when the attacks took place.