The Libyan army told people in Benghazi to lay down their arms today as its troops advanced closer to the rebel stronghold for what could be the decisive battle in the uprising against Muammar Gadafy.
Elsewhere, government forces used tanks and artillery today to try to retake the city of Misrata, the last big rebel stronghold in western Libya, residents said.
But rebel fighters in Misrata, on the Mediterranean coast about 200km east of the Libyan capital Tripoli, said they had stalled a ground attack on the city and seized some tanks from pro-Gadafy units.
Accounts of fighting in Misrata could not be verified because Libyan authorities have barred reporters from the city. Libyan officials had no immediate comment on reports of an attack.
The assault on Misrata, Libya's third-biggest city with a population of about 300,000, coincides with a rapid advance by Col Gadafy's forces on rebel strongholds in eastern Libya.
The United States, France and Britain today urged the UN Security Council to take swift action on a proposed no-fly zone over Libya, as Washington suggested it might have decided to back the plan.
Earlier today, the Libyan leader’s son, Saif al-Islam, speaking to French-based TV channel Euronews, said his troops were near the eastern town of Benghazi and "everything will be over in 48 hours".
The town of Ajbadiyah, 150km south of Benghazi on the Gulf of Sirte, was firmly in government hands after most of its rebel defenders retreated from an artillery barrage yesterday. Those who stayed had now handed over their guns, a rebel officer said.
Forces loyal to Col Gadafy have retaken a string of coastal towns in the past 11 days, reversing gains made by the rebel army early in the uprising against his 41-year-rule of the North African country. Important oil industry facilities are now mostly back under government control.
An armed forces statement read on state television described the offensive as a humanitarian operation to save the people of "beloved Benhgazi" and said troops would not take revenge on them if they surrendered.
"Advise your duped sons to hand over their weapons to the armed forces or the People's Leadership and they will be covered by an amnesty requested by the Commander which will be valid for any person who hands over his weapon to the armed forces and refrains from resistance and subversion," it said.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon today called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties in Libya.
A statement read out by a UN spokesman said Mr Ban was "gravely concerned" about signs of a forthcoming government assault on the eastern city of Benghazi.
Bombarding such a city "would massively place civilian lives at risk," the statement said, adding, "The secretary-general is urging all parties in this conflict to accept an immediate ceasefire."
The statement said Mr Ban spoke by telephone late yesterday with Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa but gave no details of their discussions.
In Benghazi, where the revolt began in mid-February, residents said they had found some leaflets in the city streets suggesting that if they gave up the fight against Col Gadafy now, they would not be harmed or punished.
The leaflets accused rebels of being driven by al-Qaeda and drugs, an allegation routinely levelled by the government against an uprising that was inspired by pro-democracy rebellions that toppled the Egyptian and Tunisian presidents.
Col Gadafy's son also attacked French president Nicolas Sarkozy and accused him of having accepted Libyan funds for his election campaign. He condemned Mr Sarkozy for being the first foreign leader to condemn his father and back the rebel Libyan National Council, calling him a "clown".
He said Libya had contributed to Mr Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign financing and demanded he return the money. Mr Sarkozy's office denied he had accepted any funding from Libya.
"It's us who financed his campaign and we have the proof. We are ready to reveal everything. The first thing we demand of this clown is to return the money to the Libyan people," Saif al-Islam was quoted as telling Euronews.
"We helped him so that he would work for the Libyan people but he has disappointed us. Give us our money back. We have all the details, the bank accounts, the documents and the transfer operations. We will soon reveal everything," he said.
Britain, France and Lebanon have circulated to the 15-nation council a draft resolution to authorise a no-fly zone to halt Libyan government air strikes on rebels. But the United States, Russia, China, Germany, India and other council members have been either undecided or voiced doubts about the idea.
Italy, a potential base for a no-fly zone proposed by Britain and France, ruled out military intervention to support the rebellion. "We cannot have war, the international community should not, does not want and cannot do it," foreign minister Franco Frattini said in Rome.
Growing numbers of Libyans and foreign nationals are now crossing into Egypt fleeing Col Gadafy's advance, the UN refugee agency said.
Reuters