Desperate tyrant Colonel ­Gaddafi used crop-spraying planes to bomb rebel-held port Misrata yesterday.

He ordered the light ­aircraft on the night raid after 70 per cent of his land ­armoury was destroyed by allied strikes.

The small planes ­destroyed eight oil storage tanks – wiping out three months’ fuel supply.

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Rebel spokesman Ahmed Hassan said: “We cannot extinguish the fire because we do not have the right tools. The city will face a major problem. Those were the only source of fuel.”

RAF Tornados hit back by destroying Frog-7 ­rocket launchers and 40 canisters for Scud missiles in ­Gaddafi’s home town of Sirte.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: “These weapons could have been used to kill innocent Libyans.”

Meanwhile, Italy’s Foreign Ministry denied reports that it had agreed to arm the Libyan rebels.