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UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Wednesday called for a halt to hostilities around the Libyan city of Misrata saying several weeks of "heavy shelling" by Libyan strongman Muammar al-Gaddafi's forces had killed or wounded hundreds.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a new "urgent call for an immediate cessation of the indiscriminate use of military force against the civilian population," his spokesman said.
His humanitarian coordination chief Valerie Amos said there had to be at least a temporary cessation of hostilities around Misrata to get food and medicine in and let those among the 300,000 population who wish to leave.
Libya's third largest city, about 215 kilometers (130 miles) east of Tripoli, has seen continuous fighting for more than 40 days since the start of the uprising against Gaddafi.
Opposition rebel leaders have said the international coalition policing a no-fly zone over Libya should do more to help the city. France has said it is considering setting up a humanitarian sea corridor into Misrata.
Ban is deeply concerned about deteriorating humanitarian conditions for civilians in Libyan cities under military attack, including Misrata, Brega and Zintan, said his spokesman Martin Nesirky.
"Conditions in Misrata are especially grave, with reports of the use of heavy weapons to attack the city, where the population is trapped and unable, as a result of heavy shelling that has continued over several weeks, to receive basic supplies, including clean water, food, and medicines," he said.
Ban again demanded that Gaddafi's government abide by UN Security Council resolutions calls for a ceasefire and halt to against civilians.
A large number of people in Misrata need food, clean water and emergency medical assistance, said Amos, UN under secretary general for humanitarian affairs.
Calling it a "life or death matter," Amos added: "We need a temporary cessation of hostilities in the area so that people can get themselves and their families out of harm's way, if they choose to do so."
A statement released by her office said there were hundreds dead and wounded in Misrata.
"The United Nations has supplies at the ready -- a temporary cessation of hostilities would allow us to get those supplies to people who desperately need them," Amos said.
Libyan rebel leaders have urged the NATO-led coalition enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya to do more to help the people of Misrata because of the growing toll.
France's Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said earlier Wednesday that his country would keep Kadhafi forces away from a sea corridor to let rebels ship aid and supplies to the besieged Mediterranean city.
Responding to rebel complaints, NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero said "Misrata is our number one priority" and that alliance warplanes had hit Gaddafi's forces around Libya's third largest city on Monday.
-AFP/wk
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