Coalition launches fresh attack:

Libya declares new ceasefire

Libya: Explosions rocked Tripoli as Western forces staged fresh air strikes to halt Moamer Kadhafi's attacks on civilians, with one raid flattening a building in the strongman's heavily-fortified residence.

As warplanes took off from Italian bases and anti-aircraft guns roared in the Libyan capital, Kadhafi's army announced a new ceasefire Sunday, saying it was heeding an African Union call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

But the United States accused Tripoli of lying about the ceasefire or breaching it immediately.

And United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a swift reaction: "I sincerely hope and urge the Libyan authorities to keep their word.

"They have been continuing to attack the civilian population. This (offer) has to be verified and tested," he said. An administrative building in Kadhafi's residential complex in Tripoli was flattened, an AFP journalist saw. The compound is surrounded by anti-aircraft guns.

The building is about about 50 metres from the tent where Kadhafi generally meets guests. It was hit by a missile, Libyan spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told journalists, who were taken to the site by bus.

"This was a barbaric bombing which could have hit hundreds of civilians gathered at the residence of Moamer Kadhafi about 400 metres away from the building which was hit," Ibrahim said.

He denounced the "contradictions in Western discourses", saying: "Western countries say they want to protect civilians while they bomb the residence knowing there are civilians inside."

But the US denied targeting the residence or Kadhafi himself.

"I can guarantee he's not on the targeting list. We're not targeting his residence," vice admiral Bill Gortney told reporters at a Pentagon press conference.

However, the strike destroyed the Libyan leader's "command and control capability," a coalition official told AFP Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The coalition is actively enforcing UNSCR (UN Security Council Resolution) 1973, and that in keeping with that mission, we continue to strike those targets which pose a direct threat to the Libyan people and to our ability to implement the no-fly zone," the official said.

Tripoli,Monday, AFP