Libya | 'no-fly zone decision near' - UK Foreign Secretary William Hague

Hague was speaking as Colonel Gaddafi's forces pushed deeper into rebel-held territory.  

He said a no-fly zone to protect the rebels from Gaddafi's air force remained "one of the leading propositions", but also suggested that world powers might consider arming the opposition.

"If Gaddafi went on to be able to dominate much of the country, well, this would be a long nightmare for the Libyan people and this would be a pariah state for some time to come," he told BBC Radio 4.

The rebels have been forced back towards the eastern city of Benghazi in recent days as first Ras Lanuf and then Brega were reported to have fallen under the superior firepower of the regime's forces.

The town of Ajdabiyah, about 90 miles south of Benghazi, was hit by heavy artillery and air strikes on Monday as Gaddafi's troops continued the sweep east. 

General Abdel Fatah Yunis, who resigned as Gaddafi's interior minister soon after the uprising began in mid-February, told reporters in Benghazi that Ajdabiya was "a vital city". 

"It's on the route to the east, to Benghazi and to Tobruk and also to the south. Ajdabiya's defence is very important. We will defend it," he said.

However, in an attempt to further isolate the rebels, government troops who had defected earlier in the uprising were offered an amnesty if they surrendered, state TV reported. 

There were also reports from the west of the country that forces loyal to Gaddafi had launched an attack on rebels in the town of Zawara.

With the rebels losing ground, pressure is increasing for the international community to act.

The leaders of the G8 nations and Russia were to meet in Paris today to discuss calls for a no-fly zone to restrict the movement of Libya's air force.

The 22-nation Arab League backed the plan on Saturday, but several world powers were still to be convinced.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that he wanted more information about how such an operation would work, while Turkey said a Nato intervention would be "counter-productive".

Nato has said a no-fly zone would require UN Security Council approval, but William Hague said a new resolution might not be necessary

"In cases of great, overwhelming humanitarian need, then nations are able to act under international law, even without a resolution of the Security Council," he said.