Libyan government forces pounded rebels with heavy artillery west of Ajdabiya today, forcing hundreds of residents and some rebel fighters to flee the key crossroads town. It is not immediately clear if there are casualties from shelling whose range is about 20 kilometres (12.5 miles). Fierce fighting also raged on the eastern frontline between troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and the Libyan rebels for the strategic oil port of Brega today as the besieged western town of Misurata was pounded with rockets and mortars by government forces. In Misurata, Libya's third largest city, at least six people were killed today and 47 others injured in artillery fire. For the fourth day in a row, troops loyal to Gaddafi shelled Misurata. The city now is facing with severe food shortages. Hundreds of civilians are believed to have died in fighting and bombing in the city over the last several weeks. In the battle for the control of eastern frontline, the rebels said they had reached the edges of Brega, 80-km west of Ajdabiya. Many fled the attack as loud explosions boomed across the town. On the other hand, NATO warplanes have stepped up its air strikes on Libyan troops even as the 28-member alliance squabbled over the military operations.