Libyan rebels: 13 killed in NATO strike

Libyan rebels celebrate as they hear about air strikes at front line near Brega, Libya, April 1, 2011. / AP Photo

BENGHAZI, Libya - An airstrike intended to thwart Muammar Qaddafi's forces killed 13 rebel fighters in eastern Libya instead, the opposition said Saturday, but they described it as an "unfortunate accident" and stressed it did not diminish their support for the international air campaign.

Opposition spokesman Abdel-Hafidh Ghoga said the slain fighters were hit Friday night as they moved forward, attempting to take back the oil city of Brega, while airstrikes were in progress. Seven fighters were injured. Ghoga said it was an example of the lack of coordination in the ranks that has proven a key obstacle to victory over the more organized Libyan military.

"This unfortunate accident was a mistake that was caused by the rebels' advance during the coalition's attack," Ghoga said. "Now the military leadership that has been organized more effectively recently is working on preventing the recurrence of these accidents."

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Rebels in the field had previously said some of their comrades were killed by an airstrike Friday but Ghoga's comments provided the first confirmation.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the alliance was investigating, and appeared to suggest that its aircraft on patrol had encountered ground fire and had retaliated.

"The exact details are hard to verify because we have no reliable source on the ground," Lungescu said. "Clearly, if someone fires at one of our aircraft they have the right to defend themselves."

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Mohammad Bedrise, a doctor in a nearby hospital, said three burned bodies had been brought in by men who said they had been hit after firing a heavy machine gun in the air in celebration. Idris Kadiki, a 38-year-old mechanical engineer, said he had seen an ambulance and three cars burning after an airstrike.

Rebels told The Associated Press that the fighters were hit by about 12 miles east of the town of Brega, which has gone back and forth between rebel and government hands in recent weeks.

Opposition spokesman Mustafa Gheriani called the airstrike "collateral damage."

"As regrettable as it may be, we understand that we might have to give up lives for the greater good. We have to look at the bigger picture," he said. "This is a war and the lines are so fluid going back and forth, so it's natural that mistakes will happen."

Rebels signal openness to Libya cease-fire

NATO, which on Thursday took over what had been a U.S.-led military campaign to stop Qaddafi from attacking his own people, also is investigating whether other airstrikes have killed civilians in western Libya, as the Libyan government claims. On Friday near the front line, at least six people were reportedly killed and 25 injured, including children, in an explosion after a NATO airstrike hit an ammunition truck, reports CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer. The United States, meanwhile, was ending its role in combat missions Saturday, leaving that work for other nations.

The loosely organized rebel force had been acting in a more disciplined fashion in recent days. On Friday only former military officers and the lightly trained volunteers serving under them were allowed on the front lines. Some were recent arrivals, hoping to rally against forces loyal to the Libyan leader who have pushed rebels back about 100 miles this week.

The greater organization was a sign that military forces that split from the regime to join the rebellion were finally taking a greater role in the fight after weeks trying to organize. It was too early to say if the improvements will tip the fight in the rebels' favor. They have been struggling to exploit the opportunity opened by international airstrikes hammering Qaddafi's forces since March 19.

[piercetheval]

Well, thank God the oil is okay! Carry on!

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
la situatIon en Libye est inqui?tante et grave,
Khadafi est de plus en plus cruel et destructeur
les rebelles s'affaiblissent de jour en jour ? cause des frappes du tyran,
........
the situation in Libya is serious and worrying,
Gaddafi is more cruel and destructive
the rebels are weakening day by day because of the strikes of the tyrant
finally, a coalition "undecided"seeking to downplay the conflict,
worst coalition is unable to protect civilians
"au revoir"

[sepa2]

What a shame. For Nato with their "toys" this is a game not destruction of a country

[myopinionpal]

CBS says "Rebels say coalition warplanes struck opposition forces that was firing into the air"

Well what was the pilot supposed to do when someone is firing into the air, he did the right thing by taking out the threat.Who knows Al Qaeda may have joined the Rebels and was trying to bring down some coalition warplanes.

[choiceshaveconsequences]

Let's just ignore the alternative that the pilot might have considered actually taking a look at the "threat" prior to firing any weapons. When all you have is a hammer, every problem is seen as a nail.

[JojozDad209]

The Rebels are Al Qaeda backed by us....weird isn't it. First they're our enemies, then they're our allies. Depending on which country we want control over Al Qaeda is either our enemy or friend.

[James93x]

Coalition fighter bombers will strike any Libyan. The Barbary Coast is the Barbary Coast. Both sides of this conflict will learn order.

[eiddam]

History repeats-
When the leader of Germany in the 1930's was storming his way across Europe and blaming countries, and the Jews for his Woes,---the American Liberty League, backed by the Elite, like Fred Koch, Prescott Bush to name two of many, was trying to overthrow the United States government,-- implement the leader of Germany's policies.
Since 2001 the leaders of the United States have been storming across the Middle East doing the same, but blaming Arabs/Muslims,for their woes,- as the Koch /Palin Tea Party is trying to overthrow the United States to implement the Fascist/ Zionist polices on behalf of Israel. Reichstag/9/11