World News: US chief denies Gaddafi's claims of civilian casualties

The US chief of staff for the mission in Libya has insisted there have been no reports of civilian casualties caused by allied action.

Rear Admiral Gerard Hueber's comments come despite claims to the contrary by Muammar Gaddafi's government.

Earlier, British Air Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell said Gaddafi's air force "no longer exists as a fighting force".

This has been the fifth consecutive night of air strikes by the US-led international force over the country.

Witnesses said there had been an explosion at a military base in the Tajura region east of Tripoli.

Last night, there were reports of government tanks shelling the hospital in the rebel-held western city of Misrata.

Witnesses had earlier said the tanks encircling the city had pulled back under air assault from international forces.

There were also reports of fierce fighting between rebels and pro-Gaddafi forces in the strategic eastern town of Ajdabiya. Residents fleeing the town described shelling, gunfire and houses on fire.

Nato members are debating who should lead the intervention, with the US keen to hand over control to Nato.

Lohan rejects plea bargain offer

Lindsay Lohan has rejected a judge's offer to end a felony grand theft case early because she has a strong defence and is confident she can win an acquittal, says her lawyer.

Lohan, 24, is accused of taking a necklace from a jewellery store without permission in January.

Concerns for nuclear staff

Nuclear officials in Japan say three workers have been exposed to radioactive elements and injured at the Fukushima Dai-chi plant.

A spokesman for the nuclear safety agency said the three workers were exposed to radioactive elements while laying cables.

Soldier jailed for 24 years

A US soldier who pleaded guilty to the murders of three Afghan civilians was sentenced to 24 years in prison after saying "the plan was to kill people" in a conspiracy with four fellow soldiers.

Military judge Lieutenant Colonel Kwasi Hawks said he initially intended to sentence Jeremy Morlock to life with possibility of parole but was bound by the plea deal. Morlock is the first of five soldiers from the Fifth Stryker Brigade to be tried in the case.

Mexican bid to cut sexist talk

Mexico's interior ministry has published a guide on how to reduce the use of sexist language in a nation renowned for its machismo.

The Manual for the Non-sexist Use of Language discourages the use of phrases such as "You are prettier when you keep quiet".15 protesters shot dead by Syrian police

Syria: Police launched a relentless assault on a neighbourhood sheltering anti-government protesters, fatally shooting at least 15 in a pre-dawn operation, witnesses said.

Israel: Aircraft struck Palestinian militant targets in the Gaza Strip today in response to rocket and mortar attacks, stoking concerns that a new round of hostilities will fill the vacuum left by a negotiations impasse in the peace effort.