Rocket attacks by Libyan government forces on Misrata have killed at least 30 people and wounded 60, a witness was quoted by Reuters as saying during a television interview.

Ahmed al-Qadi, an engineer for a dissident radio station, told Al Arabiya that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s men were carrying out “very intense and random shelling on residential areas.”

The fresh bombardments come two days after the government announced its withdrawal following an eight week battle for control of the besieged western city.

The Libyan regime said its forces had planned to leave Misrata but started shelling the city again when fired upon by the rebels.