French air strikes have hit an air base deep inside Libya in a bid to stop arms movement or the flow of mercenaries, a military official says.
In a key eastern city, talks between Muammar Gaddafi's forces and between tribal sheikhs over their possible withdrawal stalled over a demand that the troops leave their heavy weaponry behind, rebels said.
The French strikes overnight hit a base about 250 kilometres south of the Libyan coastline, French military spokesman Thierry Burkhard told reporters in Paris without giving details on the target.
He said they would keep analysis of damage confidential.
In Tripoli, Libyan deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim said that the "military compound at Juffra" was among the targets hit before dawn. Libya has at least two air bases deep in the interior.
The UN Security Council authorised the no-fly zone to protect Libyan civilians after Gaddafi launched attacks against anti-government protesters who wanted him to leave after 42 years in power. But rebel advances have foundered, and the two sides have been at stalemate in Ajdabiya, the gateway to the opposition's eastern stronghold.
The city has been under siege for more than a week, with the rebels holding the city centre but facing relentless shelling from government troops positioned on the outskirts.
Residents fleeing the violence said the situation inside the city has deteriorated in recent days. Two air strikes targeted the area early today, a rebel, Taha el-Hassadi, said.
Mohammed Ali, 56, who fled with his family in a station wagon said: "They've cut everything - the electricity, the water. It's getting worse and worse inside."
Government troops also continued bombarding the western city of Misrata today but were forced to roll back their tanks periodically amid coalition air strikes.
A 42-year-old doctor in the city said shelling had damaged a mosque and a hotel near the hospital.
"When the allies' planes were seen flying in the sky, the shelling stopped and the tanks fled," he said. "We still have to deal with snipers in the main street in Misrata and try to warn people to stay away from it."
Burkhard denied that the strikes amounted to a new phase of the campaign, insisting that all of France's efforts were being conducted in line with the UN resolution.