Tripoli bombarded as NATO seeks to break stalemate

NATO carried out some of its heaviest strikes on Tripoli yesterday after it emerged that Britain and France are to deploy attack helicopters in Libya in an effort to break the stalemate in the conflict.

More than 20 strikes were launched within half an hour around Muammar Gaddafi’s residential compound in the Libyan capital, sending heavy plumes of smoke around the city.

A government spokesman said at least three people were killed and dozens wounded in NATO strikes that targeted buildings used by volunteer units of the Libyan army.

NATO said a number of the strikes hit a vehicle storage building next to Bab al-Aziziya that had been used in supplying regime forces “conducting attacks on civilians”.

Bab al-Azizya, which contains a number of military facilities, has been pounded repeatedly by NATO strikes.

As jets flew low over the city during the night, anti-aircraft fire crackled in response, shouts and screams could be heard and Gaddafi supporters sounded car horns and fired guns.

Observers described the bombing as the heaviest attack on the Libyan capital since NATO began its air campaign on March 19.

Earlier, the defence ministry said “all options are being looked at” in response to a claim by the French defence minister that attack helicopters would be used by Britain and France.

Any use of attack helicopters, like the RAF’s Apaches, which can hit small targets in built-up areas, such as the besieged city of Misrata, would represent a significant stepping-up of international military operations.