Nato jets blast Gaddafi troops

Nato warplanes have launched air strikes against pro-Gaddafi forces guarding the Libyan former dictator’s home town of Sirte.

The attacks came a day after fierce clashes erupted in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The rebels said pro-Gaddafi forces were still shelling the airport and sporadic shooting was reported elsewhere, but the streets of Tripoli were relatively calm today.

The Nato planes targeted 29 vehicles mounted with weapons near the Sirte, which is 250 miles (400 kilometres) east of Tripoli. Rebels are trying to occupy Sirte but expect fierce resistance from tribesman and townspeople loyal to Gaddafi.

The rebel leadership, apparently trying to avoid the bloodshed that occurred in the battle for Tripoli, is working behind the scenes to secure the peaceful surrender of Sirte, officials said.

But the latest Nato strikes appeared aimed at paving the way for the rebel advance if a negotiated settlement proves impossible.

In London, British Defence Secretary Liam Fox said some elements of the Gaddafi’s regime were in Sirte “where they are still continuing to wage war on the people of Libya.” He said Nato would continue to strike at the Gaddafi forces’ military capability.

“The regime needs to recognise that the game is up,” he said.

Major General Nick Pope, a British military spokesman, said RAF jets also hit a large headquarters bunker in Sirte with a salvo of air-to-surface missiles.

Nato also bombed surface-to-air missile facilities near Tripoli, a statement said. Officials say Gaddafi’s forces are trying to repair their anti-aircraft weapons to pose a threat to humanitarian and civilian flights into Tripoli airport.