24 May 2011

NATO steps up Libya airstrikes

Between 12 and 20 heavy explosions rock Tripoli in one of the most intensive nights of bombing yet. Libyan authorities say three people have been killed and 150 wounded in the attack.

A Libyan boy smiles to his father as he sits on a destroyed tank belonging to forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi (May 22nd, Reuters)

Libyan Government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said the strikes had targeted a compound of the Popular Guards, a tribally-based military detachment of volunteers. But he said the compound had been emptied of people and “useful material” in anticipation of an attack, and the casualties were people living in the vicinity.

“This is another night of bombing and killing by NATO,” Ibrahim told reporters.

NATO said in a statement that a number of the strikes hit a vehicle storage facility adjacent to the Bab al-Aziziya compound that has been used in supplying regime forces conducting attacks on civilians.

It was not immediately clear if the facility was the only target hit.

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