'Several injured as 4 blasts strike Libyan capital'
State TV reports a number of casualties; witnesses say NATO jets seen above Tripoli moments before loud explosions heard.
By REUTERSLibyan rebels celebrating 521(photo credit: Steven Sotloff)
Libyan state television reported that air strikes hitting Tripoli on Thursday resulted in several casualties. Four blasts were heard in the Libyan capital and NATO warplanes could be seen overhead, two Reuters witnesses said.One photographer said she saw a jet in the sky moments before one loud explosion that threw up a plume of smoke.RELATED:Clinton slams Libya forces' 'brutal attacks' on civiliansNATO hawks and doves bitterly divided over LibyaA second correspondent said he could see smoke rising from the southeast of the city after hearing four blasts.Moments beforehand, Libyan government forces fired anti-aircraft guns at NATO warplanes from positions in the Libyan capital, a Reuters correspondent who heard the gunfire said.The correspondent said coalition jets appeared to have increased the number of sorties over the capital and could be heard flying overhead throughout the morning and early afternoon.Earlier on Thursday, Libyan government forces struck the coastal city of Misrata with dozens of Grad rockets, killing eight people, a rebel spokesman said.Misrata, Libya's third-biggest city, is the only major rebel stronghold in the west of the country. It has been the scene of major fighting between rebels and Gaddafi's forces for several weeks.Click for full Jpost coverage of turmoil in the Middle East
