Jets carry out heavy bombing in Tripoli

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TRIPOLI: Jets screamed in low over Tripoli early on Tuesday, carrying out a series of strikes in quick succession, after witnesses reported two others near state media offices a few hours before.

Four explosions rocked the Libyan capital shortly after 2:00 am (0000 GMT) on Tuesday, shaking the windows of a hotel housing journalists. They were quickly followed by two more blasts.

Sirens could be heard in the distance following the air strikes, as sporadic shots from assault rifles and heavier weapons rang out.

Late on Monday, witnesses reported two explosions in the capital as jets flew overhead, adding that smoke was rising from a site near the offices of Libyan television and state news agency.

At least one strike hit a building that had been previously bombed on April 30, a minder on a government-sponsored trip to the site said, adding that the building housed various civil society organisations.

The roof of part of the building said to have been bombed on Monday was blown away along with one wall, and the basement was visible through the destroyed floor. A guard at the site said the building was hit around 11:00 pm (2100 GMT).

A soaring communications tower sits in a parking lot near the building.

There were no reports of casualties in the Monday strikes.

The blasts came after NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said time was running out for Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, who "should realise sooner rather than later that there's no future for him or his regime." (AFP)