Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces have beaten back the rebels advancing towards his hometown of Sirte. Using rockets and tanks, Gaddafi's forces pushed back the rebels out of Bin Jawad, about 150 km east of Sirte, but there is no independent corroboration. Gaddafi's troops also attacked the rebel-held Misurata, 214 east of Tripoli, forcing the outgunned rebels to fall back. Meanwhile, NATO and US warplanes pounded tanks and heavy guns of Gaddafi's forces. World leaders on Tuesday vowed to intensify air strikes against Libyan forces. At a conference in London, leaders from about 40 countries also agreed to establish a contact group, chaired by Qatar, to co-ordinate support for the country.