Tripoli under new round of airstrikes

Libyan army fire anti-aircraft rounds during air strikes by coalition forces in Tripoli March 21, 2011. A coalition of western nations launched missile and air strikes on Libya the succesive third night. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

TRIPOLI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Loud explosions and heavy anti-aircraft gunfire were heard in the Libyan capital city of Tripoli at around 9:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Monday as the third round of Western-led airstrikes started.

Anti-aircraft artilleries were fired into the sky from the north and east parts of the city, while the anti-aircraft fire was also heard in south part of the city.

One military barrack 30 km west to Tripoli was bombed, a local source told Xinhua reporters Monday.

A navy base near the broadcasting and TV station in the capital was targeted in the military strikes, which also hit an oil pipeline in Shaab, a port city east of Tripoli.

After the explosion, Libyan government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim held an emergency press conference to strongly protest the bombing.

He said Western countries has launched three consecutive days of air strikes after Libyan armed forces announced a comprehensive cease-fire and stopped all military actions. The majority of Libya's civil airports and seaports were destroyed during the airstrikes.

Libyan state TV said many civilians were killed and wounded in the new round of attacks.

Similar explosions rocked the capital on Sunday, with coalition officials on Monday saying an administrative building of the residence compound of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was destroyed by a missile.