STALEMATE IN BREGANeither Gaddafi's troops nor the disorganized rebel force have been able to gain the upper hand in eastern Libya, despite Western air power in effect aiding the insurgents.Both sides have become bogged down in fighting over the eastern oil town of Brega, a sparsely populated settlement spread over more than 15 miles).Yet western countries, wary of becoming too entangled in another war after campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, have ruled out sending ground troops to help rebels push west -- which could allow them to relieve Misrata and move on to Tripoli.That in turn has raised talk of diplomatic efforts to try to ease the plight of civilians either caught up in fighting or facing shortages of food and fuel in the west."Various scenarios are being discussed," said one diplomat. "Everyone wants a quick solution."He cautioned that any solution that led, for example, include Gaddafi handing over power to one of his sons might lead to a partition of Libya -- a possibility western countries ruled out before they launched military strikes.
SHELLING IN MISRATAIn the west, Gaddafi's forces continued to besiege Misrata, shelling a building that had been used to treat wounded, a resident said, killing one person and wounding more.Misrata, Libya's third city, rose up with other towns against Gaddafi's rule in mid-February, but it is now surrounded by government troops after a violent crackdown put an end to most protests elsewhere in the west of the country.A doctor who gave his name as Ramadan told Reuters by telephone from the city that 160 people, mostly civilians, had been killed in fighting in Misrata over the past seven days.Ramadan, a British-based doctor who said he arrived in Misrata three days ago on a humanitarian mission, had no figure for the total toll since fighting began six weeks ago."But every week between 100 or 140 people are reported killed -- multiply this by six and our estimates are 600 to 1,000 deaths since the fighting started," he said.