Libya: French plane fires on military vehicle

Earlier, pro-Gaddafi forces had attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi – although the Libyan government denied launching any assault.

The international community was intervening to stop the “murderous madness” of Col Gaddafi, Mr Sarkozy said.

“In Libya, the civilian population, which is demanding nothing more than the right to choose their own destiny, is in mortal danger,” he warned. “It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Libya’s claims to have implemented a ceasefire were “troubling”, the AFP news agency reported.

The lack of confidence was so great that he did not trust what the Libyan leadership was saying, Mr Ban added.

Russia regretted the decision by Western powers to take military action, a foreign ministry spokesman said. Russia abstained from the UN vote on the Libya resolution, but did not use its veto.

The rebels’ leader had earlier appealed to the international community to stop the bombardment by pro-Gaddafi forces.