A US warplane has crashed in eastern Libya, following an apparent mechanical failure, the US military has said. It said there was no indication the F-15E Eagle had been brought down by hostile fire. Both crew members ejected and are now safe.
The plane went down near the rebel stronghold of Benghazi after a third night of allied air strikes against Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
The coalition is enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians.
The US military would not give the exact location where the F-15E Eagle came down, but said both crewmen suffered only minor injuries after ejecting.
The aircraft was based in England and was operating out of Italy's Aviano air base.
One Libyan who came across the crashed jet told Britain's Daily Telegraph that one pilot held his hands in the air and said "OK, OK", but was quickly thanked by locals for his participation in the air strikes.
Younis Amruni told the Telegraph: "I hugged him and said 'don't be scared, we are your friends'."
The crash followed renewed allied air strikes overnight. The sky above the capital lit up with anti-aircraft fire.
Our correspondent heard one loud explosion nearby and several distant rumbles much further afield. AFP news agency reported that a blast was heard near Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound.
Libyan state television reported that the capital was "under crusader enemy aerial bombardment" and that several sites had been attacked.
The Libyan authorities said a naval base at Bussetta, about 10km (six miles) east of Tripoli, and a fishing village had also been hit.
Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Monday's air and missile strikes had caused "numerous" civilian casualties, especially at the "civilian airport" in Sirte. The reports cannot be confirmed.
Continued shelling
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday that coalition forces were "going to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties".
Mr Gates, after talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov, added: "I also told him that I thought the significant military fighting that has been going on should recede in the next few days."
Russia, which abstained in last week's UN Security Council vote on the resolution authorising force in Libya, has since criticised the air strikes.
Fighting between Col Gaddafi's forces and the rebels has continued, despite the declaration of a ceasefire by the government.
A doctor in Misrata - the last rebel-held city in western Libya - told the BBC on Tuesday that residents had suffered another night of shelling by government forces.
He reported 22 deaths overnight and said more than 100 people had been injured.
There are also reports of continued fighting in Zintan, near the Tunisian border.
On Monday US President Barack Obama said the US would soon cede control of operations in Libya - "in a matter of days and not in a matter of weeks".
Mr Gates has said the mission could come under French-British or Nato control.
But divisions have emerged within Nato over taking command-and-control, with France and Turkey initially offering objections.
However, on Tuesday, French foreign ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages said: "When the Americans decide to take a bit of a step back, Nato could come in to support, that seems fairly clear."
Nato officials say they do not expect a decision for several days.
Norway said its jets would not take part in the action as long as it was unclear who was in overall command.
Meanwhile rebel leaders based in eastern Libya have had talks with United Nations officials on the humanitarian situation there.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Tobruk, where the talks were held, says that although food is being imported in the region from Egypt, it is not clear how viable the local economy will be if it remains cut off from the rest of Libya.
Coalition forces
US: B-2 stealth bombers; EA-18G Growler and AV-8B Harrier strike aircraft; destroyers USS Barry and USS Stout firing Tomahawk cruise missiles; amphibious assault ship USS Kearsage; command and control vessel USS Mount Whitney; submarines
France: Rafale and Mirage strike aircraft; refuelling and surveillance aircraft; aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and escort ships
UK: Typhoon and Tornado strike aircraft; refuelling and surveillance aircraft; Trafalgar-class submarine firing Tomahawk cruise missiles; frigates HMS Westminster and HMS Cumberland
Italy: Tornado aircraft; providing military bases
Canada: CF-18 strike aircraft; frigate HMCS Charlottetown
Spain: F-18 strike aircraft; refuelling and surveillance aircraft; frigate and submarine; military bases
Denmark: F-16 aircraft
Belgium: F-16 aircraft
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