Update | Gaddafi forces entering Benghazi

Pro-Gaddafi forces are reported to have entered Benghazi, the stronghold for the rebel forces that have led the uprising against Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

Yesterday, the Libyan government claimed to have declared a ceasefire after the United Nations Security Council imposed a no-fly zone.

Al Jazeera reports that Benghazi hospitals are now being flooded with victims and that the pro-democracy fighters do not have enough weapons and numbers to confront Gaddafi.

Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the head of the Libyan Interim Council,said residential areas in Benghazi are under attack by artillery and tanks. He also said that the plane shot down belongs to the rebels. The warplane, apparently a Libyan government aircraft, came down after the imposition of a UN no-fly zone.

Multiple explosions could be heard from the centre of the city before the flaming plane dropped crashed.

Moments later a large plume of black smoke rose above Benghazi's southern skyline.

Sky News correspondent Emma Hurd, who witnessed the crash in Benghazi, said on live TV: "We saw it circling, then the sound of anti-aircraft fire, then the plane crashed in flames.

"Planes had been circling above the heavily populated areas before heading to the south to apparently bomb the rebel areas.

"It seems to show that Colonel Gaddafi is still flying his aircraft despite the imposition of the UN no-fly zone."

After the crash a Libyan government official denied any such incident and said there were "no attacks whatsoever" by military forces on Benghazi.

Libya had declared a ceasefire on Friday after the UN authorised the no-fly zone over the country, but the US claimed it was not being respected.

Libya's deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim said yesterday that it would stick to the ceasefire, just hours after US president Barack Obama gave Colonel Gaddafi an ultimatum to stop attacking civilians and withdraw troops.

But early this morning ground attacks by troops on rebels appeared to be underway.

Following the UN resolution, Prime Minister David Cameron is preparing to discuss military action with the US and other allies at a meeting in Paris later today.

The UK is deploying fighter jets to help enforce the no-fly zone.

Col Gaddafi responded to the looming threat of international military force on Friday by unexpectedly declaring the ceasefire, but the US ambassador to the UN later claimed it had been breached.

Libyan deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim stressed: "We are categorically denying there is any military operation on the ground (in the city of Benghazi) since we announced the decision has been made to cease fire."

Cameron, who said yesterday  that a stable Libya "free from Colonel Gaddafi's brutality" was in Britain's interests, is heading to Paris for talks with France, the US and other allies about the crisis.

He told the House of Commons: "Britain will deploy Tornados and Typhoons as well as air-to-air refuelling and surveillance aircraft.

"Our forces will join an international operation to enforce the resolution if Gaddafi fails to comply with its demand that he ends attacks on civilians.

"Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to bases from where they can start to take the necessary action."

Reports last night said government troops were shelling the rebel-held western city of Misratah, killing at least 25 people including children.

However, the Libyan government claimed its forces had not carried out any military operations in Misratah or anywhere else in the country.

Obama called for an end to all attacks against civilians and, in a clear ultimatum to the country's leader, he said: "If Gaddafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences. The resolution will be enforced through military action."

Col Gaddafi's administration has invited the UN to send a team of observers to monitor its ceasefire.

But the regime's claims were treated with caution by the UK and US, with Cameron saying Britain would judge Gaddafi "by his actions, not his words".

Neither the Ministry of Defence nor Downing Street have confirmed whether any RAF planes had set off on a mission codenamed Operation Ellamy, or where they would be based in the Mediterranean.