NATO has admitted its weapons destroyed a house in Tripoli
in which Libyan officials said nine civilians were killed, an incident likely
to sow new doubts inside the alliance about its mission in Libya.
The strike on the house was the clearest case yet of NATO
bombing causing multiple civilian casualties, and comes at a time when the
agency is already under strain from a campaign that is taking more time and
resources than its backers had expected.
A NATO statement said that a military missile site was the
intended target of the air strikes but that it appeared one of the weapons did
not strike that target, which may have caused civilian casualties
“NATO regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives and
takes great care in conducting strikes against a regime determined to use
violence against its own citizens,” said Lieutenant-General Charles
Bouchard, commander of NATO’s operations over Libya.
“Although we are still determining the specifics of
this event, indications are that a weapons system failure may have caused this
incident,” he said.
Early on Sunday, Libyan officials took reporters to a
residential area in Tripoli’s Souq al-Juma district where the reporters saw
several bodies being pulled out of the rubble of a destroyed building.
Later, in a hospital, they were shown the bodies of two
children and three adults who, officials said, were among those killed in the
strike.
Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi said the NATO strike
was a “pathetic attempt …. to break the spirit of the people of Tripoli
and allow small numbers of terrorists to cause instability and disorder in the
peaceful city”.
“We will never forgive, we will never forget, we are
here; on our land, united with our leader, readyNATO admits civilians killed in Tripoli air strike
Nine civilians died in bombing as allied military campaign
against Muammar Gaddafi drags on
NATO has admitted its weapons destroyed a house in Tripoli
in which Libyan officials said nine civilians were killed, an incident likely
to sow new doubts inside the alliance about its mission in Libya.
The strike on the house was the clearest case yet of NATO
bombing causing multiple civilian casualties, and comes at a time when the
agency is already under strain from a campaign that is taking more time and
resources than its backers had expected.
A NATO statement said that a military missile site was the
intended target of the air strikes but that it appeared one of the weapons did
not strike that target, which may have caused civilian casualties
“NATO regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives and
takes great care in conducting strikes against a regime determined to use
violence against its own citizens,” said Lieutenant-General Charles
Bouchard, commander of NATO’s operations over Libya.
“Although we are still determining the specifics of
this event, indications are that a weapons system failure may have caused this
incident,” he said.
Early on Sunday, Libyan officials took reporters to a
residential area in Tripoli’s Souq al-Juma district where the reporters saw
several bodies being pulled out of the rubble of a destroyed building.
Later, in a hospital, they were shown the bodies of two
children and three adults who, officials said, were among those killed in the
strike.
Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi said the NATO strike
was a “pathetic attempt …. to break the spirit of the people of Tripoli
and allow small numbers of terrorists to cause instability and disorder in the
peaceful city”.
“We will never forgive, we will never forget, we are
here; on our land, united with our leader, ready for peace and ready for the
fight for our freedom and honour,” he told a media conference.
However, a spokesman for the rebels who have been fighting
to end the 41-year rule of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, said Gaddafi himself
was to blame.
“We are sorry for the loss of civilian life that was
caused by air strikes carried out by NATO,” said Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice
chairman of the rebel National Transitional Council.
“We hold the Gaddafi regime responsible for having
placed its military [installations] near civilian areas,” he said.
“So these losses are to be expected.”
NATO has been pounding targets in Libya for months in what
it says is an operation to protect civilians who rebelled against Gaddafi’s
41-year rule. The Libyan leader says it is an act of colonial aggression designed
to steal oil.
Strains are appearing within NATO member states as the
campaign drags on for longer than envisaged and Gaddafi remains in power – even
making a show of defiance last week by playing chess with a visiting official.
Sunday marked three months since NATO warplanes went into
action over Libya.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he believed NATO
should be allowed to stick at its task. “I think this is going to end OK.
I think Gaddafi will eventually fall,” he told CNN.
At the scene of the destroyed building on Sunday, clothes,
smashed crockery and a rubber duck littered the area.
The building is in a neighbourhood where security forces
have in the past few weeks put down anti-Gaddafi protests.
“Why is NATO doing this to us? Why?” asked Ibrahim
Ali, who said he lived on the same street as the wrecked building. “NATO
is a big problem for the Libyan people. NATO doesn’t have any business here,
this is between the Libyan people.”
Another man, who gave his name as Tony, nodded towards the
remains of the building and said: “They [local people] don’t like this …
But they don’t like the regime either.”
for peace and ready for the
fight for our freedom and honour,” he told a media conference.
However, a spokesman for the rebels who have been fighting
to end the 41-year rule of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, said Gaddafi himself
was to blame.
“We are sorry for the loss of civilian life that was
caused by air strikes carried out by NATO,” said Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice
chairman of the rebel National Transitional Council.
“We hold the Gaddafi regime responsible for having
placed its military [installations] near civilian areas,” he said.
“So these losses are to be expected.”
NATO has been pounding targets in Libya for months in what
it says is an operation to protect civilians who rebelled against Gaddafi’s
41-year rule. The Libyan leader says it is an act of colonial aggression designed
to steal oil.
Strains are appearing within NATO member states as the
campaign drags on for longer than envisaged and Gaddafi remains in power – even
making a show of defiance last week by playing chess with a visiting official.
Sunday marked three months since NATO warplanes went into
action over Libya.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he believed NATO
should be allowed to stick at its task. “I think this is going to end OK.
I think Gaddafi will eventually fall,” he told CNN.
At the scene of the destroyed building on Sunday, clothes,
smashed crockery and a rubber duck littered the area.
The building is in a neighbourhood where security forces
have in the past few weeks put down anti-Gaddafi protests.
“Why is NATO doing this to us? Why?” asked Ibrahim
Ali, who said he lived on the same street as the wrecked building. “NATO
is a big problem for the Libyan people. NATO doesn’t have any business here,
this is between the Libyan people.”
Another man, who gave his name as Tony, nodded towards the
remains of the building and said: “They [local people] don’t like this …
But they don’t like the regime either.”
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