- Title: LIBYA: NATO bomb fails to explode in strike on Tripoli's Abu Salim district
- Date: 26th August 2011
- Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (AUGUST 25, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BUILDING DESTROYED IN NATO AIR STRIKES / DEAD BODY ON GROUND / PEOPLE WALKING IN BACKGROUND MEDIC WALKING ON SCENE OF AIR STRIKE DEAD BODY UNDER RUBBLE INJURED MAN AMID RUBBLE UNEXPLODED NATO BOMB REBELS NEAR BUILDING / SMOKE IN BACKGROUND DEAD BODY ON GROUND NEAR REBEL TRUCK INJURED MAN LIMPING REBEL TRUCKS ON ROAD / GREEN FLAG ON POLE REBEL FIGHTER PRAYING ON STREET / SMOKE IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 10th September 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Reuters ID: LVA3L876Z6ALLL0OJUDO6A2IJ8M8
- Story Text: Libyan rebels stormed Tripoli's Abu Salim district on Thursday (August 25) taking scores of pro-Gaddafi fighters as prisoner.
Abu Salim is one of the main holdouts of forces loyal to embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi in the capital.
The rebels entered the district following NATO air strikes on a building in the area.
Some of the rebels in the area near the notorious Abu Salim prison had earlier said they hoped the fugitive strongman was hiding in the buildings with some of his sons.
Thousands of rebel fighters swept through houses and side streets to flush out snipers and were emerging with dozens of prisoners and gunfights were going on.
Local residents, some with children, were in cars trying to get out of the neighbourhood, where support for Gaddafi has traditionally been strong, as the rebels poured in.
Rebels drove two pickup trucks with captured pro-Gaddafi forces in the back away from the scene.
There were two NATO air strikes, apparently targeting a fire station. The building was wrecked.
Reuters journalists who moved in after the strike saw two bodies and one seriously wounded man. On the floor of the fire station was a NATO bomb which had failed to explode.
Many buildings were on fire. The pro-Gaddafi forces appeared to have no heavy weapons, just snipers in buildings. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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