Brussels:
NATO has said that it regretted its first civilian casualties in Libya and its second misfire in 24 hours, as strains emerged within the alliance and rebel forces failed to make progress on the ground.
In a statement, the alliance acknowledged responsibility for civilian deaths in a Tripoli bombing raid that left nine dead, including two toddlers.
"NATO regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives," said Libyan mission commander Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard.
"Although we are still determining the specifics of this event, indications are that a weapons system failure may have caused this incident," he added.
These first established civilian deaths come as an embarrassment for the alliance whose bombing campaign under a UN mandate is to protect civilians.
The incident also comes a day after NATO said its aircraft mistakenly hit a Libyan rebel column in the area of Brega on June 16, one of several misfires against Opposition forces.
After investigating claims of civilian deaths early Sunday by the Kadhafi regime, NATO said it appeared a weapon had failed to strike its intended target.
Journalists had been taken to the Al-Arada district of Tripoli in the dead of night, before 1:00 am Sunday (local time), to see rescue teams and bystanders desperately searching for survivors among the wreckage of a two-storey block of flats.
An AFP correspondent saw two bodies pulled from the rubble.
In a statement, the alliance acknowledged responsibility for civilian deaths in a Tripoli bombing raid that left nine dead, including two toddlers.
"NATO regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives," said Libyan mission commander Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard.
"Although we are still determining the specifics of this event, indications are that a weapons system failure may have caused this incident," he added.
These first established civilian deaths come as an embarrassment for the alliance whose bombing campaign under a UN mandate is to protect civilians.
The incident also comes a day after NATO said its aircraft mistakenly hit a Libyan rebel column in the area of Brega on June 16, one of several misfires against Opposition forces.
After investigating claims of civilian deaths early Sunday by the Kadhafi regime, NATO said it appeared a weapon had failed to strike its intended target.
Journalists had been taken to the Al-Arada district of Tripoli in the dead of night, before 1:00 am Sunday (local time), to see rescue teams and bystanders desperately searching for survivors among the wreckage of a two-storey block of flats.
An AFP correspondent saw two bodies pulled from the rubble.
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