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British, NATO Leaders Discuss Libya Operations


NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (file photo)
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (file photo)

The chief of NATO will discuss the alliance's operation in Libya with British leaders Wednesday, after NATO hit several targets in resumed airstrikes on the Libyan capital hours earlier.

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague in London.

Earlier this week, the head of Britain's Royal Navy warned that his British fleet might not be able to sustain the scale of its operations off the Libyan coast in the long term without cutbacks elsewhere.

NATO airstrikes rocked the Libyan capital, Tripoli, late Tuesday after a brief layoff. Witnesses say they heard loud explosions in the center of Tripoli and saw plumes of smoke.

Libyan state media say the bombings hit civilian sites, and there were reports of casualties.

The Libyan capital and its surrounding areas have been the target of regular NATO airstrikes since the alliance started its military operation in Libya in March. Libyan rebels are trying to advance on Tripoli, as the coalition carries out attacks on forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

In recent days, rebels have advanced from the port city of Misrata toward Tripoli, breaking a government siege. Several rebel units have pushed the front lines west from Misrata to the outskirts of Zlitan, a neighboring town held by Gadhafi's forces.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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