Tripoli targeted for third night

LONDON. March 22. KAZINFORM Libya's government says more civilians have been killed in a third night of air and missile strikes by coalition forces enforcing a no-fly zone; Kazinform refers to BBC News.
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Explosions and anti-aircraft fire have been heard near Col Muammar Gaddafi's compound in the capital, Tripoli.

Fighting between the forces loyal to the Libyan leader and the rebels has also continued, despite the declaration of a ceasefire by the government.

In the east, troops beat back a rebel advance outside the town of Ajdabiya.

And rebels in Libya's third city, Misrata, told the BBC that they had come under attack from Col Gaddafi's forces during the day.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama said the US would transfer its leading role on Libya "within days" to ensure the burden of enforcing the no-fly zone was shared.

He also said the US wanted to see Col Gaddafi removed from power but insisted the current campaign was focused on protecting civilians.

'Under siege'

The BBC's Allan Little in Tripoli says the sky above the capital lit up with anti-aircraft fire again on Monday night, repeatedly in short bursts which lasted several minutes on each occasion.

Our correspondent heard one loud explosion nearby and several distant rumbles much further afield. The AFP news agency reported that a blast was heard near Col Gaddafi's sprawling Bab al-Aziziya compound.

Libyan state television reported that the capital was "currently under crusader enemy aerial bombardment" and that several sites had been attacked; Kazinform cites BBC News.

See www.bbc.co.uk for full version

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