In Tripoli, Libyan government officials have been showing foreign journalists the wreckage of the building in Colonel Gaddafi's compound, destroyed by what they described as a coalition attack.

They claimed civilians acting as human shields could have been killed.

According to the US military the bombing raids have focused on air bases around Tripoli.

There have also been missile attacks on air defences in Misrata and Sirte and in the east, to stop pro-Gaddafi troops heading towards rebel held Benghazi.

Allan Little reports from Tripoli.