在利比亚其他地方，反叛军队仍在继续准备对卡扎菲上校的出生地和最后的主要堡垒苏尔特发动重大进攻。军队和大炮已经冲进石油港口拉斯拉努夫。叛军力量从东部进攻到这里，建筑起了自己的前线。

The United Nations has said there's an urgent need for civilians to be protected from the Syrian government's use of excessive force. The statement came after the first UN mission was allowed into Syria since anti-government demonstrations began in March. The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has used troops and tanks to put down the unrest. The UN says more than 2,200 civilians have been killed.

联合国表示，叙利亚平民迫切需要保护免受政府过度使用的暴力。自三月份反政府示威活动开始以来，首个联合国任务小组获准进入叙利亚，随后联合国发表了这份声明。叙利亚总统阿萨德使用军队和坦克来镇压抗议活动。联合国表示，自示威活动开始以来，已有超过2,200名平民遇难。

World News from the BBC

BBC世界新闻。

Millions of people living along the east coast of the United States are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, which is due to reach land in the next 24 hours. With widespread flooding and power cuts expected, President Obama has urged Americans to prepare for the worst. Seven states have declared emergencies. The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, has ordered a quarter of a million people to leave their homes.