World News from the BBC
A rebel spokesman has accused the Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi of being
bent on
creating a huge humanitarian crisis in the city of Misrata,
besiege
d by government forces since February. Peter Biles reports from rebel-held Benghazi.
At a news conference in Benghazi, a spokesman for Libya's Transitional National Council said the people of Misrata were exposed to
random
shelling. He called on Nato to destroy Colonel Gaddafi's long-range Grad rocket launchers. The rebel spokesman said no one in the international community should now have any reservations about helping to protect Libya's civilian population. But the government in Tripoli says it's committed to helping the people of Misrata after having
facilitate
d a visit to the town by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Cuba has begun the first congress of the ruling Communist Party in 14 years. The meeting is expected to endorse market economic reforms, which President Raul Castro says are needed to save the socialist system. Delegates are also expected to select new party leaders. The congress was
precede
d by a huge military parade to mark 50 years of socialism in Cuba and the defeat of the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion.
Belgrade has seen one of the biggest rallies by the Serbian opposition in years. Tens of thousands of flag-waving activists called for early elections. They are unhappy about corruption and the government's handling of the economy. President Boris Tadic says early elections could endanger Serbia's hopes of joining the European Union.