LIBYA: Rebels blame NATO for air strike that killed five

Record ID: 338830

  • Title: LIBYA: Rebels blame NATO for air strike that killed five
  • Date: 8th April 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MALE BENGHAZI RESIDENT, SAYING: "The allies and the Security Council must allow us to be armed. We don't want anything, just to be armed to defend ourselves against this dictator and fascist." PEOPLE IN STREETS (MUTE AUDIO)
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA99OPBJYZBEGNSS777MJ0L9H75
  • Story Text: A NATO air strike killed at least five rebels near the Libyan port of Brega on Thursday (April 7), medics said, and insurgents reported Muammar Gaddafi's forces killed five more in a bombardment of besieged Misrata.
    Reuters reporter Michael Georgy saw bloodstained stretchers being brought out of the hospital in Ajdabiyah, where those wounded in the attack were being treated.
    Wounded rebels being brought to the hospital in Ajdabiyah in rebel-held east Libya said their position was hit by an air strike on Thursday outside the contested port.
    "It is unbelievable. NATO with all the equipment they have. Is this the second mistake? Is it really a mistake or something arranged secretly," one resident in Benghazi said.
    It was the second time in less than a week that rebels blamed NATO for bombing their comrades by mistake. Thirteen died in an air strike not far from the same spot on Saturday (April 2).
    "Even if there was a strike before it is not intentional because it is against the UN resolutions," another resident said.
    Another man called for arms to be distributed.
    "The allies and the Security Council must allow us to be armed. We don't want anything, just to be armed to defend ourselves against this dictator and fascist," he said.
    Nurse Mohamed Ali said at least five people died in Thursday's attack. Medical workers carried uniforms soaked in blood from one of hospital rooms.
    Some rebel fighters were weeping on their knees in the corridor.
    There was no immediate comment from NATO.
    The rebels have been fighting to wrest control of Brega from forces loyal to Gaddafi for a week in a see-saw battle along the Mediterranean coast.
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