Libya denies Gaddafi son killed by NATO

THE government of Muammar Gaddafi denied a rebel report yesterday that a NATO air strike had killed the Libyan leader’s powerful son Khamis, commander of one of the government’s most loyal and best-equipped units.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said the report of Khamis Gaddafi’s death was a ploy to cover up the killing of a civilian family in Zlitan, a battlefront city where Gaddafi forces are trying to halt the rebel advance on Tripoli.

“It’s false news. This is a dirty trick to cover up their crime in Zlitan and the killing of the al-Marabit family. They invented the news about Mr Khamis Gaddafi in Zlitan to cover up their killing,” he said.