Qaddafi forces advance on rebel strongholds in eastern Libya..."

(Reuters)- ...Gadhafi's forces were using tanks and artillery on Wednesday to try to retake the city of Misrata, the last big rebel stronghold in western Libya, on the Mediterranean coast about 200 km east of the Libyan capital Tripoli. But rebel fighters in Misrata, said they had stalled a ground attack on the city and seized some tanks from pro-Gadhafi units.... Earlier, residents and rebel fighters who spoke to Reuters said Gadhafi loyalists had begun to bombard the city at 7:00 A.M. with tanks, artillery and rockets, in what appeared to be preparation for an assault.But they said that ground forces had yet to enter Misrata and were still in the outskirts... The assault on Misrata, Libya's third-biggest city with a population of about 300,000, coincides with a rapid advance by Gadhafi's forces on rebel strongholds in eastern Libya..."