The sound of the aircraft could be heard from the centre of the city, where explosions could be heard overnight.

The Libyan government and rebels fighting strongman Moamer Qadhafi's regime accuse each other of breaching a ceasefire announced by Tripoli following a UN resolution to impose a no fly zone over the war torn nation.

US President Barack Obama has delivered a blunt ultimatum to Qadhafi threatening military action if he ignored non negotiable UN demands for a ceasefire and a retreat from rebel bastions.

Washington also accused the Qadhafi regime of violating the truce.On Friday, Libya's deputy foreign minister denied there were any plans to attack the rebel bastion and said the government forces would not breach the ceasefire.

"The armed forces are now located outside the city of Benghazi and we have no intention of entering Benghazi," Khaled Kaaim told reporters.Kaaim also called for the immediate deployment of foreign observers, saying

otherwise "the accusations and counter accusations will not stop".France is due to host later Saturday what it said would be a "decisive" summit with the European Union, Arab League and African Union, as well as UN

chief Ban Ki-moon, on taking UN sanctioned military action in Libya.France's Ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, said he expected military intervention within hours of the summit.