US fighter jet crashes in Libya, crew eject

According to a US military spokesman, the plane was not shot down but suffered a malfunction in mid-flight. The two-man crew ejected from the aircraft, one was saved and another is still missing and a search is on.

"Both aircrew ejected," the spokeswoman, Karin Burzynski, said from the command's headquarters in the western German city of Stuttgart.

"One crew member was recovered and the operation to recover the second crew member is ongoing." 

Meanwhile , explosions and anti-aircraft fire was heard near Col Muammar Gaddafi's compound in the capital, Tripoli last night

The BBC reported heard one loud explosion nearby and several distant rumbles much further afield, while AFP reported that a blast was heard near Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound.

Libyan state television however reported that the capital was "under crusader enemy aerial bombardment" and that several sites had been attacked. "These attacks are not going to scare the Libyan people," it said.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told a news conference that the southern town of Sebha had been attacked on Monday. He said the coalition also attacked a "little fishing port" near Tripoli.

AFP quoted  witness has having said that a Libyan naval base at Bussetta, about 10km (six miles) east of Tripoli, had been bombarded. The al-Jazeera TV channel also reported that radar stations at two air bases east of Benghazi had been hit.

Ibrahim however claimed that Monday's air and missile strikes had caused "numerous" civilian casualties, especially at the "civilian airport" in Sirte. He also claimed that the government was in control of Misrata - the last rebel-held city in western Libya – a claim disputed by the opposition.

In unverified reports, the town of Zintan, near the Tunisian border, was also shelled by Col Gaddafi's forces on Monday, destroying houses and a mosque, witnesses told the Reuters news agency. One said there were 40 tanks on the outskirts.

In the east, troops loyal to the Libyan leader opened fire with tanks, beating back an advance by opposition fighters outside Ajdabiya.

Fighting between the forces loyal to the Libyan leader and the rebels has also continued, despite the declaration of a ceasefire by the government.

In the east, troops beat back a rebel advance outside the town of Ajdabiya.

And rebels in Libya's third city, Misrata, told the BBC that they had come under attack from Col Gaddafi's forces during the day.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama said the US would transfer its leading role on Libya "within days" to ensure the burden of enforcing the no-fly zone was shared.

He also said the US wanted to see Col Gaddafi removed from power but insisted the current campaign was focused on protecting civilians.

Coalition forces

 - US: B-2 stealth bombers; EA-18G Growler and AV-8B Harrier strike aircraft; destroyers USS Barry and USS Stout firing Tomahawk cruise missiles; amphibious assault ship USS Kearsage; command and control vessel USS Mount Whitney; submarines

 - France: Rafale and Mirage strike aircraft; refuelling and surveillance aircraft; aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and escort ships

 - UK: Typhoon and Tornado strike aircraft; refuelling and surveillance aircraft; Trafalgar-class submarine firing Tomahawk cruise missiles; frigates HMS Westminster and HMS Cumberland

 - Italy: Tornado aircraft; providing military bases

 - Canada: CF-18 strike aircraft; frigate HMCS Charlottetown

 - Spain: F-18 strike aircraft; refuelling and surveillance aircraft; frigate and submarine; military bases

 - Denmark: F-16 strike aircraft

 - Belgium: F-16 aircraft