BBC News with David Legge.

Forces loyal to the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have intensified their assault on rebel-held towns, using tanks,artillery, and air power. About 50 government tanks were reported to have attacked Zawiya near the capital Tripoli from where Wyre Davies reports.

We understand from at least two trusted sources inside the town of Zawiya that there has been heavy fighting in the town. One man told us by telephone there were at least 50 government tanks attacking Zawiya and that there were bullets flying in all directions. The same man, a trusted BBC contact,described the town as having been torn down to ashes. Another witness from the rebel-held town just 50 kilometres to the west of Tripoli said, in his own words, “Zawiya has been wiped from the earth.”, and that several people including children had been killed. The Libyan government insists that its troops are not killing civilians,and are only taking up defensive positions around towns like Zawiya.

In eastern Libya,pro-Gaddafi forces are reported to have shelled the oil town of Ras Lanuf.

The UN refugee agency says hundreds of thousands of people in Ivory Coast have been displaced by the fighting between supporters of the two men claiming to be president. The UNHCR says that over the last three months up to 300,000 have left their homes in Abidjan.

The International Criminal Court has issued summonses for six suspects in its investigation into post-election violence in Kenya in 2008.The six are accused of murder, deportations, and persecutions. Will Ross reports.