NATO warplanes have bombed several Libyan cities, including Tripoli and the towns of Sirte and al-Aziziyah.

NATO says Tuesday's strikes targeted Muammar Gaddafi's communications infrastructure and the headquarters of his 32nd brigade 10 kilometers south of Tripoli.

Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim accused NATO of helping the rebels in the east advance westwards.But he denied claims of intense fighting in the rebel stronghold of Misrata.

Khaled Kaim, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister, said, "There are fighting from areas to areas, there are pockets of resistance, or pockets of violence in Misrata and some areas, especially around the sea port but the other areas are peaceful and there are no fighting in Misrata anymore. Just pockets of violence attacking the armed forces from time to time and then the armed forces have to respond to those attacks."