Libya war: Nato air strike destroys buildings in Gaddafi's Tripoli compound
Nato forces destroyed buildings inside Colonel Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah compound early on Monday, in what a press official from Gaddafi's government said was an attempt on the Libyan leader's life.
Firefighters were still working to extinguish flames in a part of the ruined building a few hours after the attack, when foreign journalists were brought to the scene in Tripoli.
The press official, who asked not to be identified, said 45 people were hurt in the strike, 15 of them seriously, and some were still missing.
Direct hit: What remains of a building in Colonel Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah compound, after a Nato missile strike. There are unconfirmed reports of up to 45 people injured
Guided tour: Hours after the strike, foreign journalists were allowed to enter the compound. A government spokesman accompanied the journalists
Devastation: The whereabouts of the Libyan leader at the time of the attack is unknown. Buildings used as offices, and a place to meet foreign dignatories, were targeted
The injured figure could not be independently confirmed, with other sources saying that four people had been injured and another saying three people had died.
Gaddafi's compound has been struck before, but Nato forces appear to be stepping up the pace of strikes in Tripoli in recent days.
A target nearby, which the government called a car park but which appeared to cover a bunker, was hit two days ago.
The U.S., Britain and France say they will not stop their air campaign over Libya until Gaddafi leaves power.
Washington has taken a backseat role in the air war since turning over command to Nato at the end of March but is under pressure to do more.
Conference room: Extensive damage can be seen to a building that is usually used as offices and for government conference rooms. Nato is stepping up its pressure on the Libyan leader
Abandoned: Many of the offices and conference rooms in the compound had been stripped of their furnishings before the Nato air strike destroyed buildings
Prophetic comments: A matter of hours before the Nato air strike, British Foreign Minister William Hague said U.S. Predator drones could be used to assassinate Colonel Gaddafi
This week it sent Predator drone aircraft, which fired for the first time on Saturday. It is not know whether tonight's attack was executed by a Predator.
The attack comes on the very night that the British Foreign Secretary indicated that drones could be used to assassinate Libyan leader.
William Hague indicated that the unmanned aircraft, which have been used to take out Al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan, will be similarly used to target the Libyan dictator.
Senior U.S. senators have also called on President Barack Obama to launch air strikes to kill Gaddafi, to ‘cut the head off the snake’.
Joining the fight: The USAF unmanned MQ-1 Predator drone. President Obama has authorised the use of at least two Predators over Libya, although it is not known whether they were involved in the compound bombings
Asked specifically whether the Predators could be used in an assassination strike against Gaddafi, Mr Hague said: ‘Who and what is a legitimate target in this depends on how they behave.
‘That’s true of armed forces, whether they are threatening civilians; it’s true of any aircraft that took to the skies; it’s true of any leading figures as well.'
The calls came as the carnage continued in the besieged Libyan city of Misrata.
Despite Gaddafi’s regime claiming it was going to lay down its arms there, its forces shelled the city yesterday, making it the bloodiest weekend since the war began.
More than 50 people in the city were confirmed dead, and hundreds more injured, after Gaddafi’s forces fired cluster bombs, mortars and tank shells into areas civilians thought were safe again.
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