Warplane downed over Benghazi

A warplane was shot down this morning over the rebel-held Libyan city of Benghazi, an AFP reporter witnessed.

The plane, which had been heard flying over the city for several minutes was suddenly spotted with flames coming from the right rear, before it spun down on a residential area south of the city.

An explosion and a plume of black smoke marked the spot where it crashed.

The incident happened despite Libyan government claims that it had introduced a ceasefire and was respecting a UN Security Council resolution which, among other things, calls for a no-fly zone.

Malta was among a number of countries which was yesterday asked by Libya to send observers to monitor the ceasefire. The Maltese government said it was considering the request.

Turkey said it was examining a similar request, while Germany said 'no' arguing that that was the work of the United Nations.

Benghazi came under attackearlier this morning, with at least two air strikes and sustained shelling of the city's south sending thick smoke into the sky.

Multiple explosions could be heard from the centre of the city, as a military plane flew low overheard, and the southern skyline was dominated by plumes of black smoke.

Retaliatory mortar fire sounded, and on the roads pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns could be seen, after a night in which explosions and gunfire sounded continuously.

The first air strike came at 7:20 GMT and the second followed around 20 minutes later, but the identity of the planes carrying out the strikes could not be immediately identified.

At 8:17 am local time, a series of several small explosions, possibly from Katyusha rockets, produced at least seven smaller columns of black smoke south of the city.

At 8:40 am local time, a military plane could be heard flying low over the centre of the city, and several loud explosions were heard shortly afterwards.

Yesterday evening, residents of Benghazi had braced for an imminent attack, after reports Gaddafi's troops were just 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of the city and planning an evening assault.

In Tripoli, Libya's deputy foreign minister had denied there were any plans to attack the rebel bastion and said the government forces would not breach the ceasefire.

"The armed forces are now located outside the city of Benghazi and we have no intention of entering Benghazi," Khaled Kaaim told reporters.

Kaaim also called for the immediate deployment of foreign observers, saying otherwise "the accusations and counter-accusations will not stop."

Yesterday, the United States accused Gaddafiof violating the truce, and President Barack Obama delivered a blunt ultimatum to the Libyan leader, threatening military action if he ignores non-negotiable UN demands for a ceasefire and a retreat from rebel bastions.

France is today due to host what it said would be a "decisive" summit with the European Union, Arab League and African Union, as well as UN chief Ban Ki-moon, on taking UN-sanctioned military action in Libya.

France's ambassador to the United Nations, Gerard Araud, said he expected military intervention within hours of the summit.