Gadhafi forces shell rebels

TRIPOLI, Libya - Muammar Gadhafi's forces attacked two west Libyan towns, killing dozens, while rebels were pinned down in the east and NATO tried to resolve a dispute over who should lead the Western air campaign.

In the latest fighting on Tuesday, Gadhafi's tanks shelled the rebel-held western town of Misrata, and casualties included three children killed when their car was hit, residents said, adding the death toll for Monday alone had reached 40.

Residents painted a grim picture of the situation in Misrata, under siege by Gadhafi loyalists for weeks, with tanks in the city center and doctors operating on people with bullet and shrapnel wounds in hospital corridors.