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NATO denies civilian deaths

— Photo: AP

School students protest against Muammar Qadhafi in Benghazi, Libya, on Saturday.

TRIPOLI: NATO came under verbal fire again on Saturday from the Muammar Qadhafi's regime, which accused it of killing 15 more people in strikes on civilian sites in the eastern city of Brega, a claim promptly denied by the alliance.

Meanwhile, three powerful explosions struck the eastern Tripoli suburb of Tajura, where a number of military installations are located, and columns of smoke could be seen from the centre of the capital, AFP correspondents said.

It was not immediately known if the blasts were the result of an attack by NATO, which has repeatedly targeted the area in the past.

And in a likely propaganda coup against Mr. Qadhafi in football-mad Libya, 17 of the country's top players, including national goalkeeper Juma Gtat, have defected to rebels battling to oust him, the BBC reported.

The latest war of words comes a day after lawmakers dealt a symbolic rebuke to President Barack Obama over U.S. participation in the NATO-led U.N.-mandated campaign against Mr. Qadhafi, as the Libyan leader reportedly mulled leaving his capital.

The House of Representatives voted 295-123 to reject a resolution that would have given congressional authorisation to Mr. Obama's decision to use military force against Mr. Qadhafi.

The House later beat back an effort to cut funding for direct U.S. strikes on Mr. Qadhafi's forces. It voted 238-180 to defeat a resolution that would have denied money to drone attacks and bombings while backing U.S. operations in support of NATO-led efforts there for one year. — AFP

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