Reports from Libya claim that a NATO conducted airstrike hit a residential area in Tripoli early on Sunday, killing at least four civilians, including two children.
NATO Denies Targets Civilians
NATO has repeatedly denied targeting non-military areas for their airstrikes, and at the moment the charges that NATO did hit a non-military target have not been independently verified.
The accusation, whether true or not, will most likely give Colonel Muammar Gaddafi a new point to rally support to end the international intervention which NATO represents, into the civil war taking place in Libya.
Journalists Used by Libya
Journalists in Tripoli were quickly transported to the site of the airstrike in the early morning hours on Sunday, to witness the destruction of what appeared to be an apartment building whose construction was not yet completed.
Moussa Ibrahim, spokesman for the Libyan government, was not immediately at liberty to confirm the number of killed and wounded caused by the NATO airstrike. He did, however point out to the journalists that there are no military targets anywhere near the building that was struck.
Bodies Displayed in Hospital
After the visit to the bomb site the journalists were ferried to the hospital where they were shown four bodies, two of which were children, who were allegedly the victims of the NATO airstrike. It is noteworthy to mention that journalists are not permitted to travel or report freely from Libya, and are almost constantly being watched by government agents.
“There was intentional and deliberate targeting of the civilian houses,” said deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim during a visit to the site shortly after reporters arrived. “This is another sign of the brutality of the West.”
NATO officials say they are investigating the allegations, but at this time do not have information about where the airstrike took place. It is not unheard of for the Gaddafi regime to make false claims against NATO and its activities, including lying about civilian casualties caused by NATO missions in Libya.