NATO’s bomb hits Gaddafi’s compound

NATO’s bomb hits Gaddafi’s compound

NATO forces have flattened a building inside Muammar Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah compound early on Monday, in what a press official from Gaddafi's government said was an attempt on the Libyan leader's life.

A press official, who asked not to be identified, said 45 people were hurt in the strike, 15 of them seriously, and some were still missing. That could not be independently confirmed.

Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam said that the Libyan government would not be cowed by such attacks.

Al-Islam was quoted by the Jana state news agency as saying that “the bombing which targeted Muammar Gaddafi's office today... will only scare children. It's impossible that it will make us afraid or give up or raise the white flag."

"You, NATO, are waging a losing battle because you are backed by traitors and spies. History has proved that no state can rely on them to win," he said

Increasing attacks

Gaddafi's compound has been hit before, but NATO forces appear to have stepped up the pace of strikes in Tripoli in recent days. A target nearby, which the government called a car park but which appeared to cover a bunker, was hit two days ago.

The United States, Britain and France say they will not stop their air campaign over Libya until Gaddafi leaves power.

Reaction

A government statement said that the Libyan authorities have contacted Russia, China, Italy, Turkey and other countries to complain about the strike on Gaddafi's compound.

The United States, Britain and France say there cannot be a political solution in Libya until Gaddafi leaves power.

Washington has taken a backseat role in the air war since turning over command to NATO at the end of March but is under pressure to do more. Last week it sent Predator drone aircraft, which fired for the first time on Saturday.

Peace talks

The Libyan government has been talking to countries which have criticised the western air strikes as exceeding the UN Security Council mandate to protect civilians.

On Monday, Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi was in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to discuss a peace plan with the African Union (AU).

Obeidi and two rebel representatives were scheduled to hold separate meetings with the AU's Peace and Security Council and with representatives of international groups like the United Nations and the European Union. The rebels rebuffed an earlier AU peace plan because it did not entail Gaddafi's departure.

AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra, said that the meeting would be the first time that the rebels were attending a meeting.

We will meet both sides one after the other," Ramtane Lamamra, said.

Rebels have previously rejected ceasefires announced by the Libyan government, saying Gaddafi's forces have continued fighting even after Tripoli said they would stop.

REUTERS/Williams