Plane shot down over Benghazi

A plane has been shot down over Benghazi as Moamar Gaddafi's forces defy international pressure and push into the town.

But there are conflicting reports from the government and rebels about who started the latest round of fighting in the rebel stronghold in the east of Libya.
The fighting began shortly before French president Nicolas Sarkozy announced an military intervention in Libya after an international summit in Paris.
Mr Sarkozy says the UN-backed intervention has already begun with French planes flying over Benghazi to prevent air strikes and tank assaults.
Libyan jet planes were heard over Benghazi just before 9:00am (local time).
There were multiple loud explosions and a military plane was seen being struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashing shortly afterwards.
The pilot reportedly parachuted from the aircraft identified as a Russian-built MIG 23.
The plane is used by the Libyan airforce but rebel sources say the plane which crashed was one of theirs.
A number of rockets exploded on the ground near the hotel occupied by foreign reporters.
Thousands of people have fled from the city, causing a huge traffic jam on the road to Tobruk and the Egyptian border, according to an AFP correspondent.
Earlier Libyan deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaaim confirmed government troops were outside Benghazi but he said they were under attack by rebel forces.
He said they were not returning fire and had no intention of pushing into the rebel stronghold.
Libyan foreign minister Mussa Kussa later asked UN chief Ban Ki-moon to send observers to monitor the ceasefire to "prove our credibility".
A Libyan rebel spokesman said Mr Gaddafi's forces had entered the city while a witness said rebels were erecting concrete barricades to defend their headquarters.
As explosions shook Benghazi, rebel fighters said they were being forced to retreat from the outskirts of the city where the revolt against Mr Gaddafi began a month ago.
Rebels said Libyan jets had bombed the road to the Benghazi airport and elsewhere on the outskirts.
"They were 60 kilometres away yesterday. Today they are 20 kilometres away and they can be here in a half hour to 90 minutes," rebel fighter Khalid Ahmed said at a rebel base on the western edge of the city.
The fighting in Benghazi has been so rife with rumours and hearsay that it is virtually impossible to verify them due to lack of communications.
Black plumes of smoke could be seen on the road to the west of the city, a Reuters witness said.
"We have no hope in the Western forces," Mr Ahmed, the rebel fighter, added as around him rebel forces pulled back from the advancing frontline.
Elsewhere in the city, rebels also reported skirmishes and strikes by Gaddafi forces.
"Fighter jets bombed the road to the airport and there's been an air strike on the Abu Hadi district on the outskirts," said Mohammed Dwo, a hospital worker and a rebel supporter.