REBELS IN LIBYA are once again calling for help from the West in defeating forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

17 people were killed yesterday in Misrata, the last major rebel foothold in the west of the country, while in the east attacks by government troops were repelled by the rebel army in Ajdabiya.

The Irish Times reports that rebels are calling for western help in the form of modern weapons in order to organise an advance against Gaddafi’s troops. After weeks of fighting the rebels have been unable to gain dominance over forces loyal to the government. However British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that there will be no international invasion. A NATO-led air campaign mandated by the UN has failed to effectively stop Gaddafi’s army, but an occupying force on the ground has been ruled out.

According to the Telegraph concern is rising over the growing humanitarian crisis in Libya, and UN talks will take place today to discuss the situation. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the organisation has reached an agreement with the Libyan government to provide humanitarian aid in the country’s capital, Tripoli.

- Additional reporting by AP