UN chief calls for ceasefire in Libya***

TRIPOLI, May 11 (agencies): U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Wednesday for an "immediate, verifiable ceasefire" in Libya where rebels are fighting to end Muammar Gaddafi's 41 years in power. Ban was speaking in Geneva after talking with Libya's Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi. There was no immediate direct response from the rebels or government. Gaddafi's government has made several ceasefire declarations but has continued its attacks on the besieged western city of Misrata and other rebel-held areas. "He (Mahmoudi) even suggested the Libyan government was willing to have an immediate ceasefire with a monitoring team to be established by the United Nations and the African Union," Ban told a news conference. "But first and foremost there should be an end to the fighting in Misrata and elsewhere. Then we will be able to provide humanitarian assistance and in parallel we can continue our political dialogue," Ban added. Meanwhile:: Explosions rocked eastern Tripoli for almost an hour Wednesday morning as jets flew overhead, a witness said. The explosions began about 7:30 am (0530 GMT) and continued sporadically until 8:15 am (0615 GMT), according to the witness. Meanwhile: Libyan rebels cornered Moamer Kadhafi's troops at the airport in the western city of Misrata Wednesday amid fierce fighting witnessed by an AFP correspondent at the scene.