LIVE BLOG: Libya air strikes continue

20:21 The United States expects more Arab nations in the next several days to contribute to the no-fly zone being imposed over Libya, a US official told reporters

19:32 France and the United States agree on how to use NATO’s command structure to support the coalition

19:00 The US state department banned American companies from doing business with 14 companies it said were owned by Libya’s National Oil Corporation.

18:40 Al jazeera reports one of the heads of a Gaddafi brigade, Hussein El-Warfali, has been killed near Tripoli

18:32 US military says it fired over 20 Tomahawk missiles at air defense and other targets

17.00 Our International Editor Lindsey Hilsum in Libya says she has spoken to the father of a boy who was hit in the gunfire from US personnel. He says his son is expecting to have his leg amputated. http://bit.ly/fkNW3f

15.30 The six Libyan villagers were shot by a US team rescuing the pilot of a crashed jet near Benghazi, our International Editor Lindsey Hilsum discovers – read more here.

Libya: the Channel 4 News video timeline and map 

14.00 Muammar Gaddafi’s forces are barraging the rebel-held western cities of Misrata and Zintan, as allied air strikes continue in the east.

In the latest clashes, Gaddafi forces are using heavy artillery in an attempt to wrest control of the mountain town of Zintan, near the border with Tunisia and 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of Tripoli.

Residents have escaped the town centre and are seeking refuge in mountain caves.

In the UK, the Ministry of Defence held a press conference – watch an excerpt below.

11.45 Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum in Libya says six Libyans were injured when a US plane crashed outside Benghazi.

The six are the first confirmed casualties of allied operations in Libya, after a US F-15 fighter crashed in a field. The F-15E Eagle plane is believed to have experienced a system failure before crashing, although it is thought to have landed in rebel-held territory.

A US military spokesman has confirmed that both pilots are safe.

10.30 A US warplane has crashed in a Libyan field after an apparent mechanical failure and its pilot has been rescued by rebels, the Daily Telegraph is reporting.

10.00 Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are shelling the rebel-held western city of Misrata and casualties include four children killed when the car they were in was hit, a resident told Reuters.

The alleged attacks, which cannot be independently verified, follow a third night of air strikes by allied forces including the UK and US in Libya, amid increasing concerns over the long-term aims of the mission and who is leading it.

08.30 China has warned of a “humanitarian disaster” in Libya and expressed “deep concern” at reported civilian casualties as it renewed calls for an end to fighting in the North African country.

Read more - third night of bombing in Libya

08.00 There has been a third night of air attacks on the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Live blog – Libya air strikes