AL ARABIYA: Explosions rocked Tripoli as Western forces staged fresh air strikes to halt Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on civilians, with one raid flattening a building in the strongman's heavily-fortified residence, as U.S. defense chief described any attempt by the coalition forces to kill Gaddafi as "unwise".
The airstrike destroyed the Libyan leader's "command and control capability," a coalition official said Sunday.
"The coalition is actively enforcing UNSCR (U.N. 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 told AFP.
"Barbaric bombing"
The building, which was about 50 meters (165 feet) from the tent where Gaddafi generally meets guests, was flattened.
Smoke was seen on Sunday billowing from the residence and barracks at Bab al-Aziziya in the south of the Libyan capital as anti-aircraft guns fired shots.
"It was a barbaric bombing," said government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim, showing pieces of shrapnel that he said came from the missile. "This contradicts American and Western (statements) ... that it is not their target to attack this place."
Ibrahim said no one had been hurt in the attack. He declined to say whether Gaddafi was still inside the compound.
Nearby, crowds of Gaddafi loyalists, allowed into the compound as a human shield against possible air strikes, shouted anti-Western slogans including "Obama should be slaughtered." » | AlArabiya.net, Agencies | TRIPOLI/WASHINGTON | Monday, March 21, 2011
