Sunday, June 26, 2011

NATO says hit military targets in Libya's Brega


TRIPOLI (Reuters) - NATO said on Saturday its missiles had hit a site in Libya used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces to stockpile military supplies and vehicles, while Gaddafi's state media said 15 civilians had been killed.

A top rebel official said rebels would be ready to discuss any political settlement that did not involve Gaddafi remaining in power, although no proposals had emerged yet at talks with Gaddafi allies that were taking place through intermediaries.

The attack late on Friday was the second within hours on what NATO said were clearly identified military targets in the coastal city of Brega, around 200 km (130 miles) west of the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Libyan state television said a local bakery and a restaurant had been hit, wounding 20 people in addition to the 15 dead. State news agency Jana said a strike in the same area earlier on Friday had killed five civilians.

"We have no indications of any civilian casualties in connection to these strikes," a NATO official said.

"What we know is that the buildings we hit were occupied and used by pro-Gaddafi forces to direct attacks against civilians around Ajdabiya," the official said. Ajdabiya is rebel-held.

"Unlike the pro-Gaddafi forces, we go to great lengths to reduce the possibility of any civilian casualties," the official added.

Libyan television later reported that a number of people were killed in a NATO attack late on Saturday on the town of al Qawalish, some 145 km (90 miles) south of Tripoli. It said cars and houses were damaged but gave no further details.

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