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.