A team of African leaders, headed by South African President Jacob Zuma, is heading for Libya this weekend on a key diplomatic mission.
The five heads will visit both Tripoli and the rebel-held city of Benghazi to push for a truce between the forces of Col Muammar Gaddafi and the opposition.
The EU is pressing for a humanitarian mission to be allowed into the city of Misrata, which has seen heavy fighting.
Clashes are continuing between the two sides near Ajdabiya in the east.
