Qaddafi attacking deep into rebels' heartland ...

"... Despite rebel appeals to take the skies away from Gaddafi's forces, no quick action was expected as NATO has made clear it needs wider, United Nations endorsement for such a move.

More than 500 km (300 miles) east of Tripoli, Gaddafi's warplanes and gunboats off the Mediterranean coast bombarded rebels around Ras Lanuf, with projectiles crashing close to a building of the Libyan Emirates Oil Refinery Company...."