Pro-government forces in Libya are shelling targets near the western rebel-held city of Misrata.
Medical workers and activists say five rebels were killed and more than a dozen wounded in the shelling of the western city that has been under siege for months.
The shelling comes as rebels say they are trying to continue their advance toward Tripoli on Friday, after gaining control of two small towns south of the capital earlier this week.
Rebels seized the hamlets of Qawalish and Kikla following gunbattles with forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi.
The battles rage on as debate over Libya's fate continues in European capitals.
On Thursday, Italy's prime minister voiced serious doubts about the NATO intervention in Libya as his government announced plans to cut back its participation in the mission in the former Italian colony.
Silvio Berlusconi said he has always been against the war but that his “hands were tied” once the U.N. authorized a no-fly zone to protect Libyan civilians.
Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly defeated a measure on Thursday that would have cut off funding for U.S. participation in the military operation against Libya.
