Tripoli , Libya ( CNN ) -- Opposition forces in the rebel-held city of Benghazi called for massive demonstrations on Friday to show solidarity with like-minded Libyans in the capital , Tripoli , which remains under the control of leader Moammar Gadhafi . The developments came as the leaders of the United States , France and England delivered an editorial piece to European newspapers on their vision of Libya 's future . Rebels have been under intense pressure from government forces in several cities . Gadhafi 's troops pounded rebel positions in Misrata on Friday , firing mortar and artillery rounds into the strategic port city , while to the west , in Tripoli , aircraft could be heard circling the city . Libyan state television , meanwhile , reported civilian casualties from Thursday 's NATO airstrikes . The attacks came as the alliance chief asked for more precision fighter jets in order to avoid civilian deaths . At a NATO summit in Berlin , Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters that NATO has the necessary assets to continue aerial strikes , but the tactical nature of the fight has changed . `` Now they hide their heavy arms in populated areas , where before many targets were easier to get to , '' Rasmussen said . `` To avoid civilian casualties , we need very sophisticated equipment . So , we need a few more precision fighter ground-attack aircraft for air-to-ground missions . '' With the conflict at a deadly impasse , Britain and France have been pressuring NATO to step up airstrikes . In a joint op-ed that appeared Friday in three European newspapers , U.S. President Barack Obama , French President Nicolas Sarkozy and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron wrote about their vision of Libya 's `` pathway to peace . '' `` We are convinced that better times lie ahead for the people of LIbya , '' they wrote . They likened the fighting in Misrata to a `` medieval siege . '' The White House released text of the opinion piece , which called on the Libyan troops to return to their barracks . `` Our duty and our mandate under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 is to protect civilians , and we are doing that . It is not to remove ( Gadhafi ) by force . But it is impossible to imagine a future for Libya with ( Gadhafi ) in power , '' the three wrote . `` The International Criminal Court is rightly investigating the crimes committed against civilians and the grievous violations of international law . It is unthinkable that someone who has tried to massacre his own people can play a part in their future government . '' Gadhafi 's daughter , Ayesha , speaking to a cheering crowd in Tripoli on Thursday , said the United States tried to kill her and other children in 1986 . `` In 1911 , Italy attacked my country and killed my ( great- ) grandfather , '' she said . `` Now in 2011 , they 're trying to kill my father . '' `` My father once said that 'if the Libyan nation does n't want me , then I do n't deserve to live , ' '' Ayesha Gadhafi said . `` The Libyans answered him in a united voice : 'Those who do n't want you do n't deserve to live ! ' '' Ayesha Gadhafi also said rebel forces were being wrongly portrayed . `` Who are those civilians that you 're trying to protect while killing us ? Are they those who hold RPGs and other weapons ? '' The emir of Qatar , meanwhile , told CNN `` it 's possible '' weapons provided by his state have reached Libyan rebels in the past two days . Hamad bin Khalifa told `` The Situation Room '' that the opposition first must be trained in use of the weapons . Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim accused Qatar late Wednesday of providing rebels in eastern Libya with anti-tank warheads , but he did not say when . A week ago , a CNN team in eastern Libya saw the rebels with anti-tank missiles , which they did n't have before . Rebels near Ajdabiya were beginning to show signs of discipline and have received new equipment , CNN 's Ben Wedeman reported . Despite the enhanced organization , they were not ready to take the offensive . Misrata has been under siege for weeks . Reports of civilian casualties are commonplace . U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that in addition to Misrata , the situation also is particularly grave in the cities of Zintan and al-Brega because of critical food and water shortages . Rebels have pushed back the battle lines in the east from the war-weary city of Ajdabiya toward al-Brega . `` We are also deeply concerned with the fate of third-country nationals who are trapped in the areas of fighting , '' Ban said at an Arab League meeting on Libya in Cairo . `` As the fighting rages , the situation will only get worse and the more distant a political solution . '' International delegates attending a meeting on Libya Thursday in Qatar again urged Gadhafi to step down immediately . But the Libyan strongman has shown no signs of backing down . State-run television aired video Thursday of Gadhafi hanging out of the sunroof of a sport utility vehicle and waving to other cars and people on the streets . CNN 's Frederik Pleitgen , Ben Wedeman and Reza Sayah contributed to this report .
U.S. , Qatari and UK leaders write op-ed piece . Rebels show more discipline , cohesion in U.S. . UK and other cities have been under siege for weeks . Ben Wedeman says `` it 's possible '' rebels have received French weapons .