NATO targets Libyan weapons depots - Freedom Fighters report coalition air strikes against anti democratic regime targets near Zintan, as well as strikes near Misurata.

NATO air attacks have hit anti democratic regime weapons depots near Zintan, southwest of Tripoli, the capital, according to a Freedom Fighter in the town.

Separately, two loud explosions rocked a western sector of Tripoli on Sunday as jets flew overhead, witnesses had told the AFP news agency.



An international coalition began carrying out attacks on forces loyal to Dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's long-time ruler and destroyer, on March 19, under a UN mandate to protect civilians in the country. NATO took command of operations over Libya on March 31.

"NATO struck weapons depots five minutes ago in an area which lies about 30km southeast of Zintan," Abdulrahman, the freedom fighter, told the Reuters news agency by telephone on Sunday.

"We heard a loud explosion ... I think the strike hit some of them [the depots].

"We are now at a cemetery burying 11 people martyred during yesterday's fighting, in which 35 other fighters were also wounded."

The reported air raids came a week after the Libyan Regime said that Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, and three of his grandchildren were killed in a NATO air strike on a compound in Tripoli but some believe that they had being murdered under the direct orders of Gaddafi in order to get back the support of civilians who are leaving him day by day..

Elsewhere in the country, freedom figters in the contested city of Misurata clashed with regime forces near the airport, a spokesman of pro democracy fighters told the Reuters news agency on Sunday.

"Fierce fighting is taking place now at the airport and in the air force college area [near the airport]. We are still hearing sounds of artillery and rockets," the spokesman, called Abdelsalam, said from Misurata.

"NATO struck an area in the east of Misurata today but we do not have details."


Meanwhile, Tunisia warned on Sunday that the repeated shelling from Libya of one of its border towns may force it to take measures to protect its sovereignty.

The country's official TAP news agency said that about 80 shells from Libya had fallen on Tunisian territory.


There were no reported injuries after the shells fell as Libyan troops fought with freedom figters to regain control of the Wazen-Dhehiba border post.

TAP quoted the Tunisian foreign ministry as warning that the country would take "all measures needed" within the law to ensure protection of its citizens, refugees and its territory.

Tunisia summoned Libya's ambassador on April 29 to complain after shells fell in inhabited areas. It now says Libya is not keeping to its commitments.

Meanwhile Italian coast guards and local fisherman saved all 528 refugees on a boat from Libya after their vessel hit rocks off the island of Lampedusa in an operation a rescuer described as a "miracle."

Among the refugees who had thrown themselves into the water at night were 24 pregnant women.