Libyan soldiers loyal to Muammar Gadhafi celebrate before pushing forward at the western entrance of the city of Ajdabiya, Libya, on Wednesday. Jerome Delay / Associated Press

TRIPOLI, Libya - Libyan forces were mobilizing for a major knockout against rebels to recapture rebel strongholds of Benghazi and Misrata as the world is mulling a no-fly zone over the unrest-torn North African country.

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Libyan government forces have called on rebel militants to lay down their weapons and have promised to pardon anyone who would give up resistance. They also urged residents in the two cities to leave rebel-held locations and arms storage areas.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on Thursday that the action by the UN Security Council should stabilize the situation in the country, terminate violence against civilians as soon as possible and pay attention to concerns from Arab and African countries. Holding the council's rotating presidency, China immediately called for it to consult about the issue after a request from Arabic members and play a constructive role in the consultation, Jiang said.

China always advocates that Libya's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and the issue should be solved through dialogue peacefully. The discussion of relevant issues is ongoing and no agreement has been reached among the council's members, she said.

On Wednesday, Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam said government forces were approaching the largest rebel stronghold of Benghazi and all military operations against the rebels would be over in 48 hours.

Saif al-Islam told reporters that Benghazi, the second-largest city in the country, would fall whether the UN Security Council agreed to impose a no-fly zone or not. "Everything will be over in 48 hours," he declared. Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim said earlier about 3,000 rebel militants were still fighting in Benghazi.

Witnesses said on Wednesday that a military airfield southeast of Benghazi was bombed. In Misrata, 150 km east of Tripoli and the country's third-largest city, residents said government forces launched a fierce offensive with tanks and artillery from three directions. Water supplies halted in several neighborhoods.

Gadhafi said his forces would fight a "decisive battle" on Thursday to recapture Misrata and called on loyalists to take up arms to join the army.

Libyan government forces announced earlier that they had regained control of most cities which were once in the hands of the rebels.

Media reports quoted a rebel force spokesman as saying that the rebels were fighting to defend Misrata. The spokesman claimed rebel forces had repelled government forces' attack from "all sides" in Misrata.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council was scheduled to meet again on Thursday to discuss whether to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. During a meeting on Wednesday, the council members went over a draft resolution presented by Lebanon, a non-permanent member of the council, which called for the authorization of a no-fly zone over Libya.

Diplomats from France and the United Kingdom, co-authors of the draft, told reporters that they would not accept a resolution that is less strong than Resolution 1970 adopted on Feb 26, which imposed sanctions on Libya, including an arms embargo against the Libyan authorities and travel ban and asset freeze directed at Gadhafi and his key family members.

Earlier on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all parties in the Libyan conflict to "accept an immediate ceasefire," saying that "those responsible for the continuous use of military force against civilians will be held accountable".

Xinhua-China Daily