Earlier on Wednesday, NATO conducted an air strike against munitions bunkers 13 kilometers from the Libyan capital. And in Misrata, heavy fighting continues to rage, as rebels claim to be making progress against government troops.

Meanwhile, France has sent an aid plane to Benghazi, carrying 10 tons of medical equipment, at the request of the opposition. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance has kept a very high operational tempo, and missions will end when there is no longer a threat to civilians on the ground.