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NATO Airstrikes Pound Libyan Government Buildings

   VOA News  May 17, 2011
   In this photo taken on a government organized tour, a Libyan soldier
   stands in front of an official building following an airstrike in
   Tripoli, Libya, early Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Photo: AP

   In this photo taken on a government organized tour, a Libyan soldier
   stands in front of an official building following an airstrike in
   Tripoli, Libya, early Tuesday, May 17, 2011

   NATO aircraft fired on government buildings in downtown Tripoli
   Tuesday, as Russian officials prepared to meet representatives of the
   Libyan government in Moscow.
   The airstrikes in the capital targeted a building used by the country's
   security services, as well as the headquarters of the anti-corruption
   agency. Both structures were on fire after the bombing.
   Russian officials prepared to meet with members of Libyan leader
   Moammar Gadhafi's government in Moscow Tuesday. Officials say a
   separate meeting with rebel representatives will take place at a later
   date.
   Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has said United Nations and
   Libyan officials are looking for a way for the embattled leader to go
   into exile.
   On Monday, the International Criminal Court prosecutor asked judges to
   issue arrest warrants for Gadhafi, one of his sons and his intelligence
   chief, for crimes against humanity.
   Luis Moreno-Ocampo said at The Hague Monday he had gathered evidence
   that Gadhafi, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi and intelligence chief Abdullah
   al-Sanousi committed crimes with the goal of preserving the Libyan
   leader's authority.
   The ICC prosecutor said evidence showed Gadhafi had personally ordered
   attacks on civilians since launching a brutal crackdown on
   anti-government rebels in February.
   ICC judges will study the evidence and either accept the warrant
   requests, reject them or ask for additional evidence. The process is
   likely to take weeks.

   Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim has dismissed the ICC's
   efforts, calling them "questionable."

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

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References

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