Libya claims 15 civilians killed in NATO strike
Source: Agencies |
June 26, 2011, Sunday
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LIBYAN authorities accused NATO of killing 15 people yesterday in an airstrike that hit a restaurant and bakery in the east, while the alliance said there were no indications that civilians had died.
It was the latest outcry from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's government blaming NATO for killing civilians amid a four-month uprising that has sparked a civil war. NATO insists it does all it can to avoid such casualties.
Libya's state news agency quoted a military official in Gadhafi's forces as saying that NATO warplanes hit a number of civilian sites yesterday in the oil-refinery town of Brega, including a restaurant and a bakery.
The official said 15 civilians were killed and 20 wounded in the strike. The JANA news agency also claimed five civilians were killed Friday in Brega as well.
Capt Rob Leese from NATO's operational headquarters in Naples said alliance warplanes hit several targets in the vicinity of Brega yesterday, but dismissed claims that the attacks had resulted in civilian casualties.
"We have no indications of any civilian casualties in connection with these strikes," he said. "What we know is that the buildings we hit were occupied and used by pro-Gadhafi forces to direct attacks against civilians around Ajdabiya."
Meanwhile, two large explosions could be heard in the capital of Tripoli yesterday, though it was not immediately clear what the NATO airstrikes may have hit.
The Libyan rebels began their uprising in February against Gadhafi, who has been in power since 1969. The conflict has turned into a civil war, and Gadhafi's forces are accused of orchestrating deadly attacks on civilians.
The rebels have taken over much of the eastern half of Libya. They also control pockets in the west, including the vital port city of Misrata, about 200 kilometers from the capital.
A coalition including France, Britain and the United States began striking Gadhafi's forces under a United Nations resolution to protect civilians on March 19. NATO assumed control of the air campaign over Libya on March 31 and is joined by a number of Arab allies.
Britain's military said its jets had successfully hit a radar station, three command-and-control centers, and a warehouse used to stock military supplies near the Libyan oil town of Brega on Friday - badly damaging or destroying all five.
British helicopters dispatched from a Royal Navy warship followed up with further strikes that destroyed three military vehicles and hit infantry positions at various points in the area, including Brega's airfield, the military said.
It was the latest outcry from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's government blaming NATO for killing civilians amid a four-month uprising that has sparked a civil war. NATO insists it does all it can to avoid such casualties.
Libya's state news agency quoted a military official in Gadhafi's forces as saying that NATO warplanes hit a number of civilian sites yesterday in the oil-refinery town of Brega, including a restaurant and a bakery.
The official said 15 civilians were killed and 20 wounded in the strike. The JANA news agency also claimed five civilians were killed Friday in Brega as well.
Capt Rob Leese from NATO's operational headquarters in Naples said alliance warplanes hit several targets in the vicinity of Brega yesterday, but dismissed claims that the attacks had resulted in civilian casualties.
"We have no indications of any civilian casualties in connection with these strikes," he said. "What we know is that the buildings we hit were occupied and used by pro-Gadhafi forces to direct attacks against civilians around Ajdabiya."
Meanwhile, two large explosions could be heard in the capital of Tripoli yesterday, though it was not immediately clear what the NATO airstrikes may have hit.
The Libyan rebels began their uprising in February against Gadhafi, who has been in power since 1969. The conflict has turned into a civil war, and Gadhafi's forces are accused of orchestrating deadly attacks on civilians.
The rebels have taken over much of the eastern half of Libya. They also control pockets in the west, including the vital port city of Misrata, about 200 kilometers from the capital.
A coalition including France, Britain and the United States began striking Gadhafi's forces under a United Nations resolution to protect civilians on March 19. NATO assumed control of the air campaign over Libya on March 31 and is joined by a number of Arab allies.
Britain's military said its jets had successfully hit a radar station, three command-and-control centers, and a warehouse used to stock military supplies near the Libyan oil town of Brega on Friday - badly damaging or destroying all five.
British helicopters dispatched from a Royal Navy warship followed up with further strikes that destroyed three military vehicles and hit infantry positions at various points in the area, including Brega's airfield, the military said.
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