Libya claims scores of civilians die in NATO raid

10/08/11 06:03 CET

world news

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Foreign journalists have been taken to see several destroyed buildings in a village near the town of Zlitan which Libyan officials said were hit by NATO airstrikes.

They claim at least 85 civilians were killed in the worst non-combatant death toll since NATO began its campaign.

Unconfirmed reports say 33 children were among the dead. The Gaddafi regime has declared three days of mourning.

Officials in Tripoli hope to show the world that NATO bombings keep straying from military targets, thus reducing Western support for the mission.

Footage has also been shown of Muammar Gaddafi’s son Khamis visiting injured ppeople in hospital.

Although the rebels claim he was killed in a airstrike last week, the Libyan government has denied his death.

Khamis is the commander of one of Gaddafi’s most loyal and best-equipped units.

More about: Armed conflicts, Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, NATO

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