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| Nato suggests 'weapons systems failure' in Tripoli raid | Nato suggests 'weapons systems failure' in Tripoli raid |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Nato has admitted "a weapons systems failure" may have led to civilian casualties in Sunday morning's air strike in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. | Nato has admitted "a weapons systems failure" may have led to civilian casualties in Sunday morning's air strike in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. |
| In a statement, the alliance said the intended target of the strike was a military missile site, but "it appears that one weapon" did not hit it. | In a statement, the alliance said the intended target of the strike was a military missile site, but "it appears that one weapon" did not hit it. |
| The Libyan government earlier said Nato bombed a residential area, killing nine civilians, including babies. | The Libyan government earlier said Nato bombed a residential area, killing nine civilians, including babies. |
| Nato is enforcing a UN resolution to defend Libyans from pro-Gaddafi forces. | Nato is enforcing a UN resolution to defend Libyans from pro-Gaddafi forces. |
| 'Family killed' | 'Family killed' |
| "Nato regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives and takes great care in conducting strikes against a regime determined to use violence against its own citizens," said Lt Gen Charles Bouchard, commander of operation Unified Protector. | "Nato regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives and takes great care in conducting strikes against a regime determined to use violence against its own citizens," said Lt Gen Charles Bouchard, commander of operation Unified Protector. |
| "Although we are still determining the specifics of this event, indications are that a weapons system failure may have caused this incident," he added. | "Although we are still determining the specifics of this event, indications are that a weapons system failure may have caused this incident," he added. |
| The statement said that more than 11,500 sorties had already been conducted and "every mission is planned and executed with tremendous care to avoid civilian casualties". | The statement said that more than 11,500 sorties had already been conducted and "every mission is planned and executed with tremendous care to avoid civilian casualties". |
| Nato later href="http://www.natochannel.tv/" >released a video statement. | |
| Our correspondent says the incident could prompt questions about what Nato is achieving in Libya - not least by Nato members who never agreed with the operation. | Our correspondent says the incident could prompt questions about what Nato is achieving in Libya - not least by Nato members who never agreed with the operation. |
| Sunday's attack, in one of Tripoli's poorer neighbourhoods, happened shortly after midnight, Libyan officials say. | Sunday's attack, in one of Tripoli's poorer neighbourhoods, happened shortly after midnight, Libyan officials say. |
| They say that nine people were killed, including two babies, and another 18 people injured. It is not possible to verify this claim independently. | They say that nine people were killed, including two babies, and another 18 people injured. It is not possible to verify this claim independently. |
| The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, who was taken to the site by government officials, saw two bodies being removed from the rubble. | The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, who was taken to the site by government officials, saw two bodies being removed from the rubble. |
| Scores of men were working alongside the emergency services, pulling at sections of rubble and looking for bodies. | Scores of men were working alongside the emergency services, pulling at sections of rubble and looking for bodies. |
| Our correspondent was then taken to a Tripoli hospital where he was shown the bodies of two men, a woman and two babies, who government officials said had been killed in the strike. | Our correspondent was then taken to a Tripoli hospital where he was shown the bodies of two men, a woman and two babies, who government officials said had been killed in the strike. |
| Rapidly shifting lines | Rapidly shifting lines |
| Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said the incident represented a "deliberate targeting of civilian houses". | Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said the incident represented a "deliberate targeting of civilian houses". |
| Nato spokesman Wing Cdr Mike Bracken earlier told the BBC he did not know the exact location of the building Libyans accuse the alliance of hitting. | Nato spokesman Wing Cdr Mike Bracken earlier told the BBC he did not know the exact location of the building Libyans accuse the alliance of hitting. |
| The building is about a kilometre away from a military airfield, which has often been targeted by Nato. | The building is about a kilometre away from a military airfield, which has often been targeted by Nato. |
| "Those areas that might have been claimed to be residential by the Gaddafi regime in the past have turned out to be being used as C2 nodes [command and control centres]," said Wing Cdr Bracken. | "Those areas that might have been claimed to be residential by the Gaddafi regime in the past have turned out to be being used as C2 nodes [command and control centres]," said Wing Cdr Bracken. |
| The incident came shortly after Nato "regretted any possible loss of life" from an accidental air strike on a rebel column near the oil refinery town of Brega on Thursday. | The incident came shortly after Nato "regretted any possible loss of life" from an accidental air strike on a rebel column near the oil refinery town of Brega on Thursday. |
| A rebel spokesman said it was to Nato's credit that it had admitted that mistake, which he said was understandable given the rapidly shifting front lines of the conflict. | A rebel spokesman said it was to Nato's credit that it had admitted that mistake, which he said was understandable given the rapidly shifting front lines of the conflict. |
| It would be regrettable if civilians had been killed by a Nato air strike in Tripoli, he added, but praised the alliance's overall accuracy record throughout the campaign. | It would be regrettable if civilians had been killed by a Nato air strike in Tripoli, he added, but praised the alliance's overall accuracy record throughout the campaign. |
| Nato's mission - to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians using "all necessary measures" short of a ground invasion - began in March in response to Col Muammar Gaddafi's violent response to a popular uprising. | Nato's mission - to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians using "all necessary measures" short of a ground invasion - began in March in response to Col Muammar Gaddafi's violent response to a popular uprising. |
| The intervention was mandated by the UN, and led by France, Britain and the US until the end of March, when Nato took over. | The intervention was mandated by the UN, and led by France, Britain and the US until the end of March, when Nato took over. |
| Having initially been given 90 days - which would have run out on 27 June - the mission has been extended for a further 90 days. | Having initially been given 90 days - which would have run out on 27 June - the mission has been extended for a further 90 days. |
| Libyan rebels hold a third of the country in the east and pockets in the west, including Misrata, although Tripoli remains under government control. | Libyan rebels hold a third of the country in the east and pockets in the west, including Misrata, although Tripoli remains under government control. |