Gaddafi faces crimes against humanity probe

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has continued his attacks on rebel held areas despite a warning he would be held to account at The Hague for suspected war crimes by his security forces.

In Paris, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said France and Britain would support the idea of setting up a no-fly zone over Libya if Gaddafi's forces continued to attack civilians.

The uprising in Libya has severely disrupted oil production in the world's 12th largest oil exporting nation.

In the east of the country, a government warplane has bombed the town of Brega, a strategically important oil terminal, for a second day.

However, despite this show of strength, events have appeared to turn against Gaddafi as rebels spearheading the popular revolt have pushed their frontline against government loyalists west of Brega, where they had repulsed an attack on Wednesday.

The opposition fighters said troops loyal to Gaddafi had been driven back to Ras Lanuf, home to another major oil terminal, 375 miles east of Tripoli.