...

Heavy explosions shake Libya's capital

Arab World Materials 25 April 2011 06:11 (UTC +04:00)
Big explosions have reportedly rocked the center of Libyan capital city of Tripoli as the battle between rebel forces and Muammar Gaddafi loyalists intensifies, Press TV reported.
Heavy explosions shake Libya's capital

Big explosions have reportedly rocked the center of Libyan capital city of Tripoli as the battle between rebel forces and Muammar Gaddafi loyalists intensifies, Press TV reported.

The blasts took place at 2210 GMT on Sunday in several parts of Tripoli that has been under intensive fire from NATO fighter jets since Friday, AFP reported.

Signals of Libya's state TV have reportedly cut off after the blasts.

NATO warplanes have in the past days stepped up attacks on Tripoli with the goal of paralyzing Gaddafi's military capabilities but reports say the strikes have also caused civilian casualties.

Senator Lindsey Graham, member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, has urged the NATO and the Obama administration to bombard Gaddafi's stronghold in Tripoli and "cut the head of the snake off."

However, Republican Senator John McCain, who has newly been to opposition-held city of Benghazi in Libya, has warned against the effectiveness of such a strategy, saying the lives of many civilians will be endangered.

McCain has called on the international community to help arm the revolutionary forces and recognize their newly-established Transitional National Council. He has also asked the NATO to target Libya's television.

The main battlefield is still in the western city of Misratah where dozens of people have reportedly been killed in the past hours as Gaddafi forces on Sunday continued shelling the city heavily.

Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said on Sunday that Gaddafi forces have stopped all attacks on Misratah, but opposition leader Colonel Omar Bani called the move a trick, saying Gaddafi aims at creating divisions among the residents of the city who belong to different tribes.

Tags:
Latest

Latest