Libyan troops shell western mountains

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, shelled rebel positions in the Western Mountains, after rebels edged closer to the capital on three fronts.

A rebel spokesman, called Kalefa, in the town of Nalut said on Wednesday that there were no casualties from the shelling.

On Wednesday, the rebels said a NATO leaflet warning of helicopter strikes had prevented them from pushing towards the town of Zlitan, and had prompted some rebels to retreat from their newly-captured positions about 10km outside the city towards their base in Misrata, east of Tripoli.

A NATO official said the alliance dropped the leaflets west of Misrata, and closer to Zlitan.

Al Jazeera's Tony Birtey reports from near Dafniya.