Ben Brown in the eastern town of Ajdabiya says that Libyan rebels “are pretty much in full retreat now”. Our correspondent adds: “The rebels don’t have the firepower to match Gaddafi’s forces.

15:13 Voice of Free Libya radio: Anyone who could drive a T-55 tank to report for duty.

14:47 BBC The BBC’s Ben Brown in the eastern town of Ajdabiya says that Libyan rebels “are pretty much in full retreat now”. Our correspondent adds: “The rebels don’t have the firepower to match Gaddafi’s forces. The rebels don’t have a great will to fight. Gaddafi’s forces seem to be more resilient when it comes to fighting pitch battles.”

14:51 DIRECT from Misratah (Wefaq Media) An aid ship from Malta has just arrived at the city’s port

14:31 Reuters The Libyan government says it will sue any international company which concludes any energy deals with the rebels, Reuters is quoting a report on Libya’s official news agency.

14:00 AP Libya’s Col Gaddafi is welcome to live in Uganda, the spokesman for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

13:40 Sky News UK Foreign Secretary tells MPs that five Libyan diplomats have been expelled from the UK as they could pose a threat to security.

13:27 AFP Pro-Gaddafi forces are pounding the western city of Misrata with heavy artillery, revolutionaries say.

12:31 BBC The BBC’s defence correspondent Nick Childs writes: “Clearly, the rebels remain outgunned by Col Gadaffi’s forces. The arms that might be most useful to them – for example, to attack tanks – also present the most problems, both politically and practically. A major challenge would be training people to use them. It’s not just a question of teaching people technically how to aim and fire them. Given how disorganised the rebels remain, there’s also the issue of teaching them better tactics to make them more effective. Clearly there are a range of options. But whatever they are – helping the rebels to use existing weaponry more effectively, supplying other types of equipment, or actually handing over new weaponry – there’ll be the need for expert advisors. Who would they be, and where could the training take place? Inside Libya, or in another host country? It’ll all take time, effort, and money. And, if the aim is to help maintain the momentum of the uprising, it might not be in time. Serious military training could take weeks or months.

12:20 AFP Russia’s foreign minister has warned the military coalition off arming the Libyan rebels. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told AFP that they agreed with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen that the operation was staged to protect the population, and not to arm them.

12:05 Reuters A Reuters correspondent heard aircraft and then blasts in the direction of the oil town of Ras Lanuf on Wednesday after rebels said they were retreating under bombardment by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.

“I heard the sound of jet engines overhead three times and then a series of booms. There are more booms right now but its unclear if it’s from the jets or other types of bombardment,” Reuters correspondent Alexander Dziadosz said.

11:45 BBC The latest agency despatches from Libya suggest rebels have retaken the key oil port of Ras Lanuf, while we’re also hearing reports of coalition airstrikes near Uqaylah.

11:44 AP Warplanes have “buzzed” fighting near Ras Lanuf today but have not fired on Gaddafi’s troops.

11:27 Sky News Producer Tom Rayner tweets: Sound of aircraft over Tripoli right now – seems to be lower than yesterday judging by the noise.

11:11 Al Jazeera English The question now is why the international coalition has yet to launch air strikes on Gaddafi’s troops as they advance from Nawfaliya to Bin Jawad to Ras Lanuf. Are they obeying the letter of resolution 1973, as Christian Science Monitor writer Dan Murphy suggests on Twitter, or is there something else going on?

10:32 BBC Revolutionaries have been trying to hold their front line after pro-Gaddafi forces recaptured several coastal towns including Ras Lanuf. But fighting is ongoing between Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad. The BBC’s Ben Brown in Ajdabiya says he has seen the revolutionaries sending reinforcements to the front line, including four Katyusha rocket systems. Reports from the western city of Misrata say rebels there are still coming under intense attack

9:34 BBC Revolutionaries have lost the key port of Ras Lanuf and there are fears of being rolled back further, so they are praying for weaponry from western forces, says BBC’s Ben Brown. But they’re impeded as they lack any form of command structure – when they get shot at, they tend to jump into their trucks and retreat down the road, he adds.