The intense shelling came a day after at least eight people were killed and 27 wounded as the forces loyal to Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi fired rockets at rebel positions, hospital officials said.
"Kadhafi`s forces approached the city, they bombed the western gate. The sound of the guns are coming closer, that`s why many are leaving," said Omar Salim Mufta, a 27-year-old resident rebel supporter who has not taken up arms.
Another civilian, 48-year-old Milud Ghait, appealed for NATO forces to carry out air strikes on the area as about a dozen pickup trucks carrying rebel fighters left the town.
"Kadhafi`s forces are on the western outskirts of Ajdabiya, but NATO is doing nothing. Where is NATO? What are the French, British and Americans doing?" he asked.
It was not immediately clear if there were casualties from Sunday`s artillery rounds, which indicated that Kadhafi forces had inched closer to Ajdabiya and were less than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the city.(*)
(U.H-RN)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
