Tripoli bombed, Kadhafi lashes 'colonial plot'

TRIPOLI: NATO warplanes blitzed a string of military targets in Tripoli on Sunday, an official said, as embattled Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi blamed a "colonial plot" for the conflict engulfing his country.

"In Tripoli there were two command and control nodes, two surface-to-air missile launchers and one anti-aircraft gun (hit)," the NATO official said from the mission's headquarters in Naples, Italy.

An AFP reporter said two blasts occurred at 00:50 am (2250 GMT) in the area housing Kadhafi's residence in the heart of the capital, followed by others in the city's eastern and southeastern suburbs.

A column of smoke was seen over Kadhafi's residential complex, which had been targeted by NATO warplanes on Saturday, when the transatlantic military alliance confirmed seven strikes and said they hit a military command node.

Kadhafi meanwhile late Saturday said in an audio message broadcast on state television that the unrest that has swept his country since a popular uprising erupted mid-February was a "colonial plot." He did not elaborate.

He also denied accusations by international rights groups of a brutal suppression of dissent and allegations that his regime had killed thousands of protesters.

"They lie to you and say, 'Libya kills its people with bullets, that is why we have come to protect civilians'," Kadhafi said, referring to the NATO air campaign which was mandated by the United Nations with the aim of protecting civilians in Libya.

"Only eight people have been killed and an inquiry is under way to determine who killed them. There are no protests and no gunfire. Show us where the thousands of people (reportedly killed) are buried," Kadhafi said.

He also heaped praise on toppled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, describing him as "poor and modest" and saying he deserved honour rather than humiliation. "I know Hosni Mubarak, a poor and modest man" who loves his people, Kadhafi said in the address marking the anniversary of the 1952 coup in Egypt led by Gamal Abdel Nasser against the monarchy.

"Instead of being humiliated, Hosni Mubarak should be honoured."

The latest NATO strikes came after rebel forces said they had lost 16 fighters east of Tripoli and had infiltrated the capital and attacked a regime command post where a son of the strongman was among officials targeted.