TRIPOLI, Libya – NATO warplanes bombarded targets in Tripoli with
more than 20 airstrikes early Tuesday, striking around Moammar
Gadhafi's residential compound in what appeared to be the heaviest
night of bombing of the Libyan capital since the Western alliance
launched its air campaign against his forces.
The
rapid string of strikes, all within less than half an hour, set off
thunderous booms that rattled windows, sent heavy, acrid-smelling
plumes of smoke over the city, including from an area close to
Gadhafi's sprawling Bab al-Aziziya compound.
Government
spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said at least three people were killed and
dozens wounded in NATO strikes that targeted what he described as
buildings used by volunteer units of the Libyan army.
NATO
said in a statement that a number of the strikes hit a vehicle storage
facility adjacent to Bab al-Aziziya that has been used in supplying
regime forces "conducting attacks on civilians." It was not immediately
clear if the facility was the only target hit in the barrage. Bab
al-Aziziya, which includes a number of military facilities, has been
pounded repeatedly by NATO strikes.
The
military aircraft whooshed low over the city during the night, the
strikes coming in series of three loud booms, a pause of minutes
punctuated by the hissing sound of low-flying jets, then more shaking,
shuddering strikes, shaking windows miles away from Bab al-Aziziya. The
sound of other more distant explosions could also be heard. AP
