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NATO Strikes Near Gadhafi Compound

   VOA News  April 23, 2011
   A crater, which the Libyan government said was caused by coalition air
   strikes, is seen at an area in Bab al-Aziziyah compound in Tripoli,
   April 23, 2011 (picture taken on guided government)

Photo: Reuters

   A crater, which the Libyan government said was caused by coalition air
   strikes, is seen at an area in Bab al-Aziziyah compound in Tripoli,
   April 23, 2011 (picture taken on guided government)

   NATO forces have bombed an area close to Libyan leader Moammar
   Gadhafi's compound in Tripoli, hitting what reporters described as a
   military installation.
   The strike early Saturday set off alarms in the capital, but caused no
   injuries.
   Libyan officials described the site that was hit as a parking lot. But
   reporters on the scene say two bomb craters exposed a layer of
   reinforced concrete covering what appeared to be a bunker. They said
   ammunition crates also lay close by.
   Also Saturday, the Italian Foreign Ministry said Libyan authorities
   have released an Italian ship detained in the port of Tripoli last
   month along with its 11 crewmembers.
   The ship, which was working for an Italian oil company, was seized
   shortly before an international coalition began imposing a no-fly zone
   over Libya.

   Map of Misrata in Libya

   On Friday, Libyan officials said the military will withdraw from the
   city of Misrata, which has been the scene of some of the fiercest
   fighting between pro-Gadhafi forces and opposition rebels.
   Libya's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaim, said the fate of the city
   will be left to the "tribes around Misrata and the Misrata people."
   He did not say when or under what circumstances the army would leave.
   Earlier Friday, U.S. Senator John McCain toured the Libyan rebel
   stronghold of Benghazi and called on the U.S. and other world powers to
   recognize the rebels' transitional council.
   The Republican lawmaker said he will demand the Obama administration
   provide more funds for rebels to, in his words, "get this thing over
   with" and remove Mr. Gadhafi from power.
   White House spokesman Jay Carney said it is up to the "people of Libya
   to decide" who should run their country.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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