Full Focus

U.S. flags are placed on gravestones of military veterans at the Cyprus Hills National Cemetery in New York May 27, 2012. REUTERS/Allison Joyce

Editor's Choice

Our best photos from the last 24 hours.  See more 

Tripoli death toll up to 19: state TV

Related Topics

1 of 4. Smoke rises above buildings in Tripoli May 24, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Louafi Larbi

CAIRO | Tue May 24, 2011 6:28pm EDT

CAIRO (Reuters) - The death toll from NATO air strikes on Tripoli and its suburbs has risen to 19, Libyan state television reported on Tuesday, showing footage of civilians with head wounds.

NATO warplanes delivered some of their heaviest air strikes yet to Muammar Gaddafi's compound after the United States said the Libyan leader would "inevitably" be forced from power.

"Nineteen civilians martyred and 150 were wounded in a crusader NATO strike on Tripoli and its suburbs," Jamahiriya television said, airing footage of at least three young men on stretchers with gaping head wounds and covered with dust.

A Libyan government spokesman had earlier said three people had been killed and 150 wounded, and that the casualties were local residents.

A NATO official said the strikes hit a military facility that had been used to launch attacks on civilians.

(Writing by Sami Aboudi)
World
Libya
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Comments (9)
McBob08 wrote:
The Libya operation is in that awkward position where sensible people are wondering if we’re doing more harm than good. Bush established that a president can “wage war” for 2 months without getting the approval of Congress, but we’re past that time now. Why isn’t Obama going to Congress to ask for their permission to continue the aggressive campaign against Kadhafi, rather than just follow the UN resolution to protect the protesters and other civilians of Libya?

It seems pretty clear that for whatever reason, Obama has started listening to the Warhawks. While the situation in Libya in March could not be ignored by the UN, we have to ask if NATO is really helping the situation or not at this point. Are things better for the Libyans who want political change than they were before the UN got directly involved?

May 24, 2011 3:11am EDT  --  Report as abuse
bobw111 wrote:
Actuallly it wasn’t Bush that established the 60 day (2 month) limit.

It was congress, back in the days of the Vietnam war. Do a search on the “War Powers Resolution.”

However, Bush, like O’bama and virtually every president since the resolution, argued that the resolution was meaningless because the constitution grants the right to declare war to the president.

Bush however avoided conflict with congress by complying with the resolution. To the best of my knowledge, O’bama has not complied.

May 24, 2011 8:09am EDT  --  Report as abuse
bobw111 wrote:
Sorry I got it wrong.

President is Commander-in-Chief and thus has authoritiy to direct use of military force.

Congress has right to declare war. Read the Library of Congress Law web site write-up on the resolution and it will all be clear as mud…

May 24, 2011 8:19am EDT  --  Report as abuse
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.
See All Comments »