Reply #25: NATO says its aircraft hit Libyan rebel column

[pinboy3niner]

Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:47pm GMT


BRUSSELS, June 18 (Reuters) - NATO said on Saturday its aircraft carried out an attack on a column of military vehicles this week that Libyan opposition forces said injured 16 of its fighters.


Rebel spokesman Farag al-Moghraby said on Thursday the air strike took place near Ajdabiyah, eastern Libya, and that six rebel pickup trucks fitted with anti-aircraft guns had been destroyed.


"NATO can now confirm that the vehicles hit were part of an opposition patrol," it said in a statement after investigating the rebel report of the incident.


"This incident occurred in an area of conflict between Gaddafi forces and opposition forces," it said.


"A column of military vehicles including tanks was observed in an area where Gaddafi forces had recently been operating. In a particularly complex and fluid battle scenario, it was assessed these vehicles were a threat to civilians and they were subsequently engaged by NATO aircraft."

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http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE75H0AN20110618?sp=true