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    June 18, 2011

Fighting in Northwest Libya, NATO Pounds Tripoli


   Students walk past a building at Fatih University, which was damaged
   during coalition air strikes the day before, according to Libyan
   officials, in Tripoli, June 18, 2011. Picture taken during guided
   government tour. Photo: Reuters
   Students walk past a building at Fatih University, which was damaged
   during coalition air strikes the day before, according to Libyan
   officials, in Tripoli, June 18, 2011. Picture taken during guided
   government tour.

   Clashes have erupted between forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar
   Gadhafi and rebels in the northwestern city of Nalut.
   Rebel fighters said Saturday that at least eight people have been
   killed in the unrest.
   Meanwhile, NATO has called Libyan government claims that alliance
   airstrikes are targeting civilians "outrageous." At a Saturday news
   conference from Brussels, spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said it is Gadhafi
   and his forces who have been "systematically and brutally attacking"
   Libyan people.
   On Friday, Gadhafi delivered a fiery audio message in which he vowed to
   defeat NATO forces. His message came as NATO warplanes pounded targets
   in the capital, Tripoli.
   Libyan state television says more allied airstrikes took place on
   Saturday in a neighborhood in the capital.
   In a separate development, Austria on Saturday became the latest
   foreign power to announce that it will recognize the opposition
   Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the
   Libyan people. The group has already received recognition from
   countries that include Italy, France, and Qatar.

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

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