"They are trying to get into Misrata, they are now 10 km away," rebel spokesman Gemal said by telephone to Reuters. "We are hearing shelling. We have no choice but to fight," he said.
Another fighter, Mohamad Ahmed, said he could hear the sound of anti-aircraft guns getting closer to the city centre. A resident, who gave his named only as Mohammed, confirmed an attack by Muammar Gaddafi's loyalists was under way.
"I think they are 5 km from the town now, I can hear loud explosions. Everybody is rushing home, the shops have closed and the rebels are taking positions in the neighbourhoods," he said.
Fighters and residents had been bracing for a government onslaught in Misrata after Zawiyah, the only other town in western Libya which openly defied Gaddafi's four decade rule, was recaptured by his forces this week
Short link: