Gaddafi army mining south of Tripoli

The army of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has laid land mines in Libya’s Nafusa Mountains to counter rebel attacks there, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.

The mountains, which lie to the south of Tripoli, have been the site of clashes between the two sides, as the rebels attempt to edge towards the capital.

Rebels claim to have removed around 169 mines from the area. The ordnance was later inspected by Human Rights Watch.

“These anti-personnel land mines pose a huge threat to civilians,” said Steve Goose, arms director for the advocacy group.

The organisation said it had now discovered mines in six locations across Libya.

Five types of mine were found, including the difficult-to-detect Brazilian-made T-AB-1, an anti-personnel mine that can also be used as part of an anti-vehicle mine.

Meanwhile, Nato insisted yesterday that an air strike west of Tripoli hit a military target and not civilians, as claimed by Col Gaddafi’s regime, while a British air force chief yesterday warned of Libya overstretch.

Nato, reversing an initial denial, acknowledged its warplanes early on Monday carried out strikes in the Sorman area, 70 kilometres from Tripoli, but said its warplanes bombed a “high-level” command and control node. Libyan government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said 15 people, including three children, were killed in the attack, which he slammed as a “cowardly terrorist act which cannot be justified”.

Mr Ibrahim said the attack was on an estate of a veteran comrade of Col Gaddafi, Khuwildi Hemidi, who served on the Revolution Command Council Col Gaddafi created when the strongman seized power in 1969. Journalists escorted there by authorities saw damaged buildings on the sprawling estate.

Reporters were also taken to Sabratha hospital some 10 kilometres from Sorman, where an AFP correspondent saw nine bodies, including two children.

They also saw body parts including a child’s head.

Canadian Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, commander of Nato operations in Libya, insisted the military was targeted.