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Libya crisis: Tripoli hit by Nato air strikes | Libya crisis: Tripoli hit by Nato air strikes |
(40 minutes later) | |
Huge explosions have rocked the Libyan capital, Tripoli, during a series of air strikes by low-flying Nato jets. | Huge explosions have rocked the Libyan capital, Tripoli, during a series of air strikes by low-flying Nato jets. |
Some of the blasts appeared to strike close to the compound of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. | Some of the blasts appeared to strike close to the compound of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. |
The attacks came as diplomatic pressure mounts on Col Gaddafi to step down. | The attacks came as diplomatic pressure mounts on Col Gaddafi to step down. |
The head of the African Union Panel for Libya, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, said his departure had become necessary to end the conflict. | The head of the African Union Panel for Libya, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, said his departure had become necessary to end the conflict. |
Russia and China, meanwhile, despatched for the first time top diplomats to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in an attempt to mediate an end to the four-month-long conflict. | Russia and China, meanwhile, despatched for the first time top diplomats to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in an attempt to mediate an end to the four-month-long conflict. |
"We have come to Benghazi to facilitate dialogue between the two camps," Russia's Africa envoy, Mikhail Margelov, said. | "We have come to Benghazi to facilitate dialogue between the two camps," Russia's Africa envoy, Mikhail Margelov, said. |
At the same time, Libya's Foreign Minister Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi flew to Beijing for talks in what analysts describe as an attempt to regain diplomatic support on the international stage. | At the same time, Libya's Foreign Minister Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi flew to Beijing for talks in what analysts describe as an attempt to regain diplomatic support on the international stage. |
On the military front, Nato carried out rare daytime strikes on Tripoli, including a wave of attacks on military barracks near Col Gaddafi's residence. The explosions shook the ground and smoke billowed into the air. | |
Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim condemned the strikes. | |
"Instead of talking to us, they are bombing us. They are going mad. They are losing their heads," Mr Ibrahim said. | |
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev recently said the Libyan leader had lost legitimacy and should step down - echoing the views of most Western powers. | Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev recently said the Libyan leader had lost legitimacy and should step down - echoing the views of most Western powers. |
'Departure necessary' | 'Departure necessary' |
Most African leaders have, until now, remained quiet on Col Gaddafi's future. | |
But the Mauritanian leader, tasked with leading Africa's mediation efforts, has now said Col Gaddafi should go. | But the Mauritanian leader, tasked with leading Africa's mediation efforts, has now said Col Gaddafi should go. |
"Whatever happens, there will be a negotiated solution. In any case, Gaddafi can no longer lead Libya. His departure has become necessary," he told the AFP news agency. | "Whatever happens, there will be a negotiated solution. In any case, Gaddafi can no longer lead Libya. His departure has become necessary," he told the AFP news agency. |
Nato started air strikes in March, after the UN Security Council passed a resolution backing military force to protect civilians in Libya. | Nato started air strikes in March, after the UN Security Council passed a resolution backing military force to protect civilians in Libya. |
Col Gaddafi threatened to wipe out Libya's second city, Benghazi, after it was seized by his opponents. |