Two explosions rock Gaddafi neighbourhood

LIBYA: Several loud explosions have rocked the Libyan capital of Tripoli’s Bab al-Aziziya neighborhood, where Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi’s compound is located. Civilian and military sites in Tripoli’s Tajura area were targeted, leading to civilian and military losses, local media reported. Earlier, a NATO airstrike targeted a radar station in the heart of a residential area in Tripoli.

NATO has conducted hundreds of strike sorties on Libya since it assumed control of an aerial bombing and monitoring campaign to impose a no-fly zone over the country last March, purportedly to save civilian lives.

However, dozens of civilians have so far been killed in punishing, UN-mandated aerial attacks by US and NATO forces in efforts to pressure Gaddafi to give up power.

Britain’s Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced on Monday that NATO and its allies were prepared for a lengthy continuation of their air campaign in the North African country.Libya has also been the scene of fierce fighting between Pro-Gaddafi troops and anti-regime forces since mid-February.

Revolutionary forces want an end to Gaddafi’s decades-long, despotic rule. Presstv