NATO steps up assault

TRIPOLI (AP):

NATO warplanes struck a command centre in Tripoli early yesterday in the heaviest bombing of the Libyan capital in weeks, while rebels, capitalising on other NATO air strikes, reported battlefront gains that could ease the siege of the port city of Misrata.

The NATO planes struck what the alliance called a command and control facility in downtown Tripoli, according to Italian Brigadier General Claudio Gabellini.

"All NATO targets are military targets," said Gabellini, who serves on NATO's planning staff at the headquarters in Naples.

He denied that NATO was targeting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, saying "We have no evidence about what Mr Gadhafi is doing right now, and to tell you the truth we're not really interested."

Gabellini also said 30 regime military targets have been hit since May 2 around Misrata, which has been under siege by Gadhafi's forces for two months. The targets included 12 tanks, three self-propelled guns, three multiple-rocket launchers and various vehicles, Gabellini said.