In this photo made on a government organized trip, guards inspect damage at Moammar Gadhafi’s compound following an airstrike, in Tripoli, Libya, early on Monday, April 25. (AP Photo)
TRIPOLI, April 25 (AFP): NATO bombs destroyed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's office in his immense Tripoli residence on Monday, while rebels pushed forward against the strongman's troops in the besieged city of Misrata. Heavy explosions had shaken the centre of Tripoli shortly after midnight as warplanes overflew the Libyan capital.
A Libyan official accompanying journalists at Gadhafi's compound said 45 people were wounded, 15 seriously, in the bombing. He added that he did not know whether there were victims under the rubble. "It was an attempt to assassinate Colonel Gadhafi," he affirmed. Seif Al-Islam, Gadhafi's son, described the bombing as "cowardly." "This cowardly attack on Moammar Gadhafi's office may frighten or terrorise children but we will not abandon the battle and we are not afraid," he said, claiming that NATO's battle was "lost in advance."
NATO warplanes had already late Friday targeted the Bab Al-Aziziya district, where the presidential compound is located. At around 3:00 am (0100 GMT) smoke was still rising from part of the building that was hit, watched by dozens of people shouting slogans praising the Guide. A meeting room facing Gadhafi's office was badly damaged by the blast.
In Misrata, 215 kilometres (132 miles) east of Tripoli, Libyan rebels made significant gains Sunday in a key street in the besieged city, where residents have lived under a rain of shells and sniper fire for 50 days. "I spent 50 days home with my family hiding from sniper fire," said Muftah Emeitiq, 45, adding that he was happy to be finally free thanks to the rebel advance.
Misrata was still rocked by a salvo of Grad rockets and bursts of automatic weapons on Sunday, despite a pledge by the Libyan regime to halt its fire in the port city where the humanitarian situation has stirred international concern. But rebel gains on Tripoli street -- one of the main arteries of the city and the stronghold of troops loyal to Gadhafi until Friday -- allowed residents to venture out after days stuck at home.
Rebels had killed or captured the majority of snipers behind deadly assaults and ambushes on the street but still encountered some pushback from regime forces. A barrage of artillery fire continued into the night, killing at least 10 people including children, witnesses and medics said on Monday.
However, the sounds of fighting died away early morning and the streets were quiet and deserted after sunrise. Rebel leader Taher Bashaga said: "It will take some time, I think, but then it will all go well and Misrata will be free for ever, God willing." Two captured pro-Gadhafi soldiers told AFP that loyalist forces were losing their grip in the battle for Misrata.
"Many soldiers want to surrender but they are afraid of being executed" by the rebels, said Lili Mohammed, a Mauritanian hired by Gadhafi's regime to fight insurgents in Libya's third city. Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said the army had suspended operations against rebels in Misrata, but not left the city, to enable local tribes to settle the battle "peacefully and not militarily."
A Libyan official accompanying journalists at Gadhafi's compound said 45 people were wounded, 15 seriously, in the bombing. He added that he did not know whether there were victims under the rubble. "It was an attempt to assassinate Colonel Gadhafi," he affirmed. Seif Al-Islam, Gadhafi's son, described the bombing as "cowardly." "This cowardly attack on Moammar Gadhafi's office may frighten or terrorise children but we will not abandon the battle and we are not afraid," he said, claiming that NATO's battle was "lost in advance."
NATO warplanes had already late Friday targeted the Bab Al-Aziziya district, where the presidential compound is located. At around 3:00 am (0100 GMT) smoke was still rising from part of the building that was hit, watched by dozens of people shouting slogans praising the Guide. A meeting room facing Gadhafi's office was badly damaged by the blast.
In Misrata, 215 kilometres (132 miles) east of Tripoli, Libyan rebels made significant gains Sunday in a key street in the besieged city, where residents have lived under a rain of shells and sniper fire for 50 days. "I spent 50 days home with my family hiding from sniper fire," said Muftah Emeitiq, 45, adding that he was happy to be finally free thanks to the rebel advance.
Misrata was still rocked by a salvo of Grad rockets and bursts of automatic weapons on Sunday, despite a pledge by the Libyan regime to halt its fire in the port city where the humanitarian situation has stirred international concern. But rebel gains on Tripoli street -- one of the main arteries of the city and the stronghold of troops loyal to Gadhafi until Friday -- allowed residents to venture out after days stuck at home.
Rebels had killed or captured the majority of snipers behind deadly assaults and ambushes on the street but still encountered some pushback from regime forces. A barrage of artillery fire continued into the night, killing at least 10 people including children, witnesses and medics said on Monday.
However, the sounds of fighting died away early morning and the streets were quiet and deserted after sunrise. Rebel leader Taher Bashaga said: "It will take some time, I think, but then it will all go well and Misrata will be free for ever, God willing." Two captured pro-Gadhafi soldiers told AFP that loyalist forces were losing their grip in the battle for Misrata.
"Many soldiers want to surrender but they are afraid of being executed" by the rebels, said Lili Mohammed, a Mauritanian hired by Gadhafi's regime to fight insurgents in Libya's third city. Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said the army had suspended operations against rebels in Misrata, but not left the city, to enable local tribes to settle the battle "peacefully and not militarily."
NATO urged to adopt Gadhafi’s assassination policy
Washington, April 25 (Agencies): Senior western leaders have urged NATO to adopt an assassination policy against Colonel Moammar Gadhafi to put an end to the emerging stalemate in Libya.
The calls came as Gadhafi was reported to have strengthened his grip on power by restoring billions of dollars in overseas assets that should have been frozen by UN sanctions, The Telegraph reports. On Sunday, US lawmakers had urged the coalition forces to directly target Gadhafi with military strikes.
The quickest way to end the emerging stalemate was to "cut the head of the snake off. The people around Gadhafi need to wake up every day wondering, ''Will this be my last?''” Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services committee, said. Arizona Senator John McCain, who visited Libya at the weekend, also agreed that Gadhafi should be assassinated, but stressed that it is more important to increase American firepower over Libya.
Washington, April 25 (Agencies): Senior western leaders have urged NATO to adopt an assassination policy against Colonel Moammar Gadhafi to put an end to the emerging stalemate in Libya.
The calls came as Gadhafi was reported to have strengthened his grip on power by restoring billions of dollars in overseas assets that should have been frozen by UN sanctions, The Telegraph reports. On Sunday, US lawmakers had urged the coalition forces to directly target Gadhafi with military strikes.
The quickest way to end the emerging stalemate was to "cut the head of the snake off. The people around Gadhafi need to wake up every day wondering, ''Will this be my last?''” Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services committee, said. Arizona Senator John McCain, who visited Libya at the weekend, also agreed that Gadhafi should be assassinated, but stressed that it is more important to increase American firepower over Libya.
