Gaddafi 'cluster bombing Misrata'

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Abdullah, a doctor in Misrata, told the BBC he had seen evidence of the use of cluster bombs

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Pro-government forces in Libya have been accused by a human rights campaign group of using cluster bombs, which are banned by more than 100 countries.

Human Rights Watch said one of its photographers saw three mortar-launched projectiles explode over a residential area of Misrata, in western Libya.

A government spokesman denied the allegation, calling for more evidence.

New attacks by government troops have been reported in Misrata, the only western city still in rebel hands.

One resident, Aous, told the BBC he had seen indiscriminate bombing and shooting from 0630 (0330 GMT) on Saturday.

"I listened to bombing and shooting everywhere. And I saw smoke going up just a few metres from my house.

"The shooting was random in this area - there are families here. They didn't make a difference between any houses, just shooting."

As well as cluster munitions there have been a number of reports that Libyan forces are using the Soviet-designed Grad rocket system in their bombardment of Misrata.

The Grad, which launches multiple rockets from mobile launchers, has been blamed for a number of civilian deaths in recent days, including eight people in a bread queue. Reuters news agency reported large numbers of Grads fired into Misrata on Saturday.

Launched from a truck containing up to 40 rocket pods and able to fire some 40 rockets in quick succession, Grads blanket a wide area and are said to have been used against the port of Misrata, a key link to the outside world for those in the city.The BBC's Jon Leyne, in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi, says the Grad is another indiscriminate weapon that - while not illegal - could be even deadlier than cluster bombs.

This is urban warfare of the nastiest kind, our correspondent says: on the one hand you have the rebels fighting the government and on the other government forces appear to be randomly shelling and using sniper fire in civilian areas.

There were also reports of renewed fighting near the eastern town of Ajdabiya, where rebels are regrouping on the road to the oil town of Brega.

'Appalling'

Releasing photographs of cluster munitions, New York-based Human Rights Watch said three projectiles had exploded over Misrata's el-Shawahda neighbourhood on Thursday night.

more -- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13102328

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