Nato takes control of enforcing Libya no-fly zone

Tripoli: Nato has agreed to take control of enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya to thwart the forces of leader Mummar Gaddafi, as coalition air strikes were launched for a seventh straight day on Friday.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Thursday that after lengthy negotiations the 28-member alliance reached a deal to enforce the no-fly zone.

"We are taking action as part of a broad international effort to protect civilians against the Gaddafi regime," he said.

Rasmussen said the Nato operation was limited to enforcing the no-fly zone, but a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity later in Washington, said Nato reached a "political agreement" to also command all other operations aimed at protecting civilians - meaning strikes against Gaddafi's ground forces.

The news came as anti-aircraft fire raked the Libyan skies overnight, with at least three explosions shaking the capital and its eastern suburb of Tajura, journalists reported.

At least one blast was heard from the centre of the city, while others came from Tajura, home to military bases, an AFP journalist reported.

Britain's Defence Secretary Liam Fox said Friday that British Tornado jets launched missiles overnight at Libyan armoured vehicles in the strategic eastern town of Ajdabiya.

"The Tornado aircraft launched a number of guided Brimstone missiles at Libyan armoured vehicles which were threatening the civilian population of Ajdabiya," Fox said.

Libyan state television said "civilian and military sites in Tripoli and Tajura" had come under fire from "long-range missiles."

Fighting also raged in rebel-held Misrata, some 214 kilometres (132 miles) east of Tripoli. A doctor treating the wounded at a hospital said attacks by Gaddafi forces since March 18 "have killed 109 people and wounded 1,300 others, 81 of whom are in serious condition."

Relentless British, French and US air strikes since Saturday have been targeting Gaddafi's air defences in a bid to protect civilians under the terms of a UN resolution.