U.N. said 20 children killed in Misrata (Reuters)

The United Nations appeal Tuesday for a ceasefire in the city of Misrata Libyan, saying at least 20 children had been killed in attacks by besieging the Government forces rebel-held parts of the city.

Third city of the Libya, where hundreds are believed was killed by gunfire bombardments and sniper by the forces of Muammar al-Gaddafi, is the main objective of the efforts to protect civilians caught in the submission of the Libyan leader end to an armed rebellion to put.

At the same time the Western powers are seeking ways to support the efforts of rebels to overthrow Gaddafi, while NATO said there are limits to what air power could do to end the siege of the city.

Britain said that he would send military officers to advise the rebels on the Organization and communication, but steps to train or arm of combatants. France, said that the West had underestimated the ability of Gaddafi to adapt his tactics in response to the NATO operation.

Italy, said that the international Contact Group Libya was the search for ways to allow rebels to sell the oil produced in the East by the rebel despite an embargo on Libyan oil sales United Nations.

Nine weeks after the rebellion broke out, inspired by the other uprisings against the autocratic Arab rulers, the air campaign led by NATO to prevent the forces of Gaddafi out of air and attacks against civilians, is not to stop the bombing of Misrataa city of 300,000 people.

"Fifty days in the fighting in Misrata, the complete picture of the toll on children is emerging - far worse than what we had feared and some worse unless there is a ceasefire," said Marixie Mercado of the United Nations Children's FundUNICEF.

"We have at least 20 verified deaths and many more injuries caused by the shrapnel from mortars and tanks and bullet wounds," she told a press briefing in Geneva.

Aid groups say food, medicines and other basic items are in short supply of the city, and tens of thousands of victims and foreign workers are waiting at the port to be evacuated.

Many NATO members refuse to go beyond to enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone to attack the forces of Gaddafi, despite the insistence of the United States, France and Great Britain.

Some of those that helped the United Nations Security Council resolution on the Libya pass say that it is poorly used to give the rebels military aid - although combat appears to have prevented on a front line west of Ajdabiyah in eastern Libya.

AIR STRIKES

NATO said that many air strikes Monday night targeted Gaddafi communications infrastructure and the seat of his 32nd brigade, 10 kilometres (six miles) South of Tripoli. Libyan television said Tripoli, Sirte and al Azizia had been bombed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said support air West was allowing the Libyan opposition refuse to sit down to negotiate.

"The Security Council of the United Nations never to overthrow the Libyan regime", said in Belgrade. "All those who currently use the resolution of the United Nations for this purpose violates the mandate of the United Nations." "It is essential to establish a ceasefire."

France, said President Nicolas Sarkozy would meet the rebel leader of the Libya, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, in Paris, on Wednesday, but his Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, said that the France, such as Britain, remains opposed to sending ground troops.

The European Union presented a draft plan Monday to this effect, with a mandate without combat, to protect shipments Misrata and elsewhere if requested assistance by the Organization of the United Nations.

Any mission of the European Union, could ensure the transport of supplies in Libya, in particular Misrata military personnel.

United Nations World Food Programme said it had with Libyan, sent consent of Tunisia eight trucks with 240 tons of food - sufficient for 50 000 people for 30 days - to the West including Zawiyah, Zintan and Nalut villages which are mainly under the control of Qaddafi after the uprisings have been crushed.

GASOLINE CARGOES

A combination of fighting and the UN sanctions have caused shortages of gasoline in Tripoli and other cities controlled by the Government in the West.

But oil State official Bashir Guiloushi, who chairs the Brega oil company, told state television "we are working to ensure the arrival of successive cargo of gasoline," without specifying where he came from.

He said the oil refinery at Zawiyah West of Tripoli, where production has stopped for several weeks then that the rebels controlled the city, was now working at full capacity again.

For now, lifeline of the Misrata is its port, where humanitarian supply ships were docking and ferries were evacuating some foreign workers injured, as well as trapped, while several thousand are still waiting for a passage to security.

"There is no electricity." The city is running on generators... fuel reserves are used, "researcher of Amnesty International Donatella Rovera told Reuters by telephone from the city." "" Water supply has now been cut for weeks therefore, once again, which is used is reserves. ?

Shelling Government continues Tuesday, said Rovera, and a rebel spokesman said at least 31 people were killed in there Sunday and Monday by Government shelling and snipers.

The Arab Medical Union doctors working in Misrata said the World Health Organization that the 120 - bed hospital he was "overwhelmed."

They said about 30 patients with multiple injuries, and requiring surgery were admitted each day.

Libyan officials say they are fighting against the armed militias with ties to al-Qaeda bent to destroy the country and denied that Government troops are bombing Misrata.

The rebels who control the territory of Eastern around Benghazi had hoped to sell the oil produced it to finance the rebellion, but the sanctions of the United Nations to cut revenues from Gaddafi prevented them from selling more that a net of water.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that he hoped a meeting in early May of the Contact Group of the Libya - European and the countries of the Middle East, of the Organization of the United Nations, the African Union and the Arab League - would accept a way of allowing the rebels to sell oil on international markets.