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Despite the announcement of a Libyan cease-fire in effect across the nation, ousted Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi continued campaigns against rebel forces. Gaddafi's loyal soldiers bombarded the rebel-held city of Misrata on Friday with tanks and heavy artillery, killing at least 25 people, residents said.

According to Reuters, Libyan residents reported that shells and tank rounds were still clobbering the countryside after the Libyan Foreign Minister's 12:30 GMT announcement of a nationwide ceasefire.

'Gaddafi's forces are bombing the city with artillery shells and tanks. We now have 25 people dead at the hospital, including several little girls,' Dr Khaled Abou Selha told Reuters Friday.

After the announcement, President Obama took to the podium at the White House, announcing that the U.S. would support a U.N.-backed no-fly-zone over the country. Obama made it clear that, while joining the international community enforcing sanctions against Gaddafi and other violators of the peace agreement, no ground troops would be deployed.

There should be no doubt about the Libyan leader's intentions 'because he has made them clear,' Mr. Obama said. 'Just yesterday, speaking of the city of Benghazi, a city of roughly 700,000, he threatened 'we will have no mercy and no pity.' No mercy on his own citizens.'

In a move to try and out-maneuver international intervention, Gaddafi announced his own cease-fire but appears to have violated it. In a joint statement to Gadhafi late Friday, the United States, Britain and France � backed by unspecified Arab countries � said a cease-fire must begin "immediately" in Libya, the French presidential palace said.

Source: Reuters