Clashes are underway in Libya’s eastern oil of town of Brega as rebel fighters try to reverse the momentum of forces loyal to Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi. The rebels are said to have made gains to retake Brega following a night of NATO air strikes against Gaddafi’s troops. Rebel groups, meanwhile, are accusing the Gaddafi regime of committing “massacres” in the town of Misurata, with shelling reportedly killing dozens of civilians in the past few days. A rebel spokesperson told Reuters at least 20 civilians were killed and many wounded when Gaddafi forces bombed a number of homes. The Western bombing campaign has also reportedly killed a number of civilians in recent bombings of the capital Tripoli. A top Vatican official said he had heard credible reports that new air strikes have killed at least 40 civilians. The deputy commander of the NATO force, Canadian Lt. Charles Bouchard, said he is taking the reports seriously.

Lt. Charles Bouchard: “We are very careful in the prosecution of any of the possible targets that we have. We have very strict rules of engagement provided to us, and we are operating within the legal mandate of our United Nations Mandate 1973.”