Bodies lay scattered on Monday in the Libyan town of Misrata, where medical staff tried to help the wounded after some of the bloodiest fighting in two months of siege, rebels and residents said. Misrata residents, the last rebel stronghold in western Libya, they found scenes of devastation in areas where Gadhafi troops withdrew at night under heavy rocket and artillery fire.
Medics said 20 people died during the bombing on Sunday and 28 on Saturday. A rebel spokesman said the death toll was even higher. Three bodies were charred and a 10 year old boy died in his sleep, residents said. It stopped when it appeared NATO aircraft. "The bodies of Gadhafi troops are everywhere in the streets and bridges.
Can not say how many. Some have been there for days," said Mohammed Ibrahim, a resident whose cousin died over the weekend. Gadhafi forces said last week they were withdrawing from Misrata because the NATO attacks were causing too many casualties and vowed to leave the battle in the hands of local tribes.
The rebels claimed victory early Saturday. Within hours, Misrata was the target of some of the fiercest fighting of the siege of two months, in which hundreds of civilians were killed and transformed the city into a symbol of resistance against Gadhafi. Misrata was the only city in western Libya, still in rebel hands, and if Gadhafi troops were forced to retreat would be a major defeat.
Residents said that forces loyal to Gadhafi abandoned street Tripoli, scene of recent fighting, and withdrew to the outskirts of the city, where at times when they were bombed by NATO planes. But residents were not sure if the army had withdrawn completely. In the main hospital in Misrata, attending doctors treated many wounded.
Sami, a rebel spokesman said the humanitarian situation was deteriorating rapidly. "It's indescribable. The hospital is very small. It is full of wounded, most in critical condition." "The amount of food available in the city is also decreasing. The state of the city is deteriorating because it has been under siege for two months," he said. 
Medics said 20 people died during the bombing on Sunday and 28 on Saturday. A rebel spokesman said the death toll was even higher. Three bodies were charred and a 10 year old boy died in his sleep, residents said. It stopped when it appeared NATO aircraft. "The bodies of Gadhafi troops are everywhere in the streets and bridges.
Can not say how many. Some have been there for days," said Mohammed Ibrahim, a resident whose cousin died over the weekend. Gadhafi forces said last week they were withdrawing from Misrata because the NATO attacks were causing too many casualties and vowed to leave the battle in the hands of local tribes.
The rebels claimed victory early Saturday. Within hours, Misrata was the target of some of the fiercest fighting of the siege of two months, in which hundreds of civilians were killed and transformed the city into a symbol of resistance against Gadhafi. Misrata was the only city in western Libya, still in rebel hands, and if Gadhafi troops were forced to retreat would be a major defeat.
Residents said that forces loyal to Gadhafi abandoned street Tripoli, scene of recent fighting, and withdrew to the outskirts of the city, where at times when they were bombed by NATO planes. But residents were not sure if the army had withdrawn completely. In the main hospital in Misrata, attending doctors treated many wounded.
Sami, a rebel spokesman said the humanitarian situation was deteriorating rapidly. "It's indescribable. The hospital is very small. It is full of wounded, most in critical condition." "The amount of food available in the city is also decreasing. The state of the city is deteriorating because it has been under siege for two months," he said.
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