In One Libya Town, 'Absolute Carnage'

International air strikes have not yet turned the tide in Libya: Rebel forces tried to advance toward the strategically important town of Ajdabiya today, but were stopped in their tracks by heavy tank and missile fire from Moammar Gadhafi loyalists, the New York Times reports. Though international planes were heard overhead, they did not appear to be attacking Gadhafi’s forces in the town.

Meanwhile, in the western city of Misrata, there were reports of pro-Gadhafi forces using human shields. “They are taking people hostage,” one resident told Reuters. Others told CNN that Gadhafi’s forces had wreaked “absolute destruction and carnage” on the city. “Misrata is being flattened and razed to the ground as we speak,” said one man. “They are shooting people in the main street.” Gadhafi himself is still missing following yesterday’s attack on his compound. (More Libya stories.)