Libya: NATO strikes support rebel advance on Tripoli

A Libyan official on Thursday accused NATO of intensifying its bombing campaign in direct support of a rebel advance south of the capital Tripoli, in breach of its UN mandate.

Rebel forces reportedly captured two hamlets from government troops south of Tripoli on Wednesday as they pushed toward Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold in the capital.

A senior Libyan official told Associated Press that NATO warplanes had intensified air strikes to lay the groundwork for the advance.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said the increased bombings represented the "final phase" of the alliance's air campaign, which he added would achieve nothing but civilian casualties.

"The aim of these attacks is to help the rebels to advance. But I assure you, it will be another failure for them," he said.

The rebels claimed to have captured the village of Qawalish south of the capital on Wednesday, along with another nearby hamlet.

The rebels also reportedly made gains outside the coastal town of Misurata, to the east of Tripoli.

NATO and several Arab allies launched a UN-backed air campaign over Libya in March with a mandate to protect civilians amid a bloody and prolonged uprising against Gaddafi's regime. Last week the alliance announced it was intensifying air strikes in the west of the country, including around Tripoli.

Some NATO leaders have interpreted the UN mandate to mean directly supporting the rebels, despite criticism from countries such as Russia and doubts over who the rebels are and what they would do if they seized control of the north African country.

The New York Times reported that at least 13 pro-Gaddafi soldiers and 7 rebels were killed in the six-hour battle for Qawalish, which is within striking distance of Gharyan, a town which straddles a strategic highway leading south from Tripoli.