NATO said it had destroyed key ammunition stockpiles and several armoured vehicles in airstrikes across Libya in the last 24 hours.

NATO aircraft struck ammunition stockpiles east of Tripoli that were being used to resupply Muammar Gaddafi's forces who were involved in shelling innocent civilians in Misrata, the alliance said.

The alliance continued to target forces who fired on civilians despite the loyalists' tactic of shielding themselves or their weapons behind bystanders.

"In addition to hitting their supplies, our aircraft successfully destroyed a significant percentage of the Libyan government's armoured forces," General Charles Bouchard, who heads Operation Unified Protector, said.

"Some of these armoured forces also were involved in the indiscriminate shelling of Misrata," he added.

By eliminating these heavy weapons, we are reducing the Gaddafi regime's ability to attack the local population."

Following allegations that NATO was taking sides in the conflict in Libya, the alliance stressed it would attack any forces that meant to harm innocent civilians, as stipulated by the UN Security Council resolution.

"We will not always be able to limit loss of life but regime forces should understand that if they continue to... follow orders to attack their own people they will be targeted," Mr Bouchard said.

The mission to protect civilians was being made increasingly difficult by the use of women and children as human shields by government troops striking at rebel fighters in the heart of communities, NATO said.

"We have observed horrific examples of regime forces deliberately placing their weapons systems close to civilians, their homes and even their places of worship," said Mr Bouchard.

"Troops have also been observed hiding behind women and children. This type of behaviour violates the principles of international law and will not be tolerated," he added.

NATO's announcement of successful air strikes on ammunition stockpiles used to shell Misrata came after heavy fighting erupted in the city yesterday, with four civilians killed as loyalist forces sought to dislodge rebels.

Misrata, about 215km east of Tripoli, has seen fighting for more than 40 days since the start of the uprising against Gaddafi.

Earlier today, a NATO official said their warplanes had intercepted a MiG-23 fighter jet operated by a Libyan rebel pilot today and forced him to land after he violated a UN-mandated no-fly zone.

Originally published as NATO attacks forces using civilian shields