The addition to the coalition's armoury this week of American A-10 Thunderbolts and AC-130 gunships, lumbering aircraft equipped with fearsome cannon that can hit targets in built-up areas with less risk than fast jets of killing civilians, could tilt the balance in Misrata and elsewhere.

ECONOMIST: The battle for Libya

The Americans say an AC-130 gunship attacked after four anti-aircraft guns were seen firing at US planes, including from the compound where the wedding party was hit.

BBC: US team probes Afghan wedding raid