Witness reports 2 blasts outside Libyan capital

CTVNEWS

Witness reports 2 blasts outside Libyan capital

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, April 13, 2011 11:47AM EDT

A Libyan rebel pickup truck armed with a rocket launcher with a pre Gadhafi flag and Arabic that reads 'February 17th, Free Libya' guards at the western gate of Ajdabiya, Libya, Wednesday, April 13, 2011. (AP / Nasser Nasser)

Text:

AJDABIYA, Libya - A resident of the Libyan capital says two strong explosions have been heard on the outskirts of the city.

The Tripoli resident said the blasts apparently struck the area near the airport Wednesday. He asked that his name not be used for fear of reprisals by the government.

The explosions could be NATO airstrikes on targets held by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Libyan rebels have been pleading for more NATO airstrikes as top Western and Arab envoys gather in Qatar's capital to discuss ways to end the Libyan crisis.

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Libyan women flying pre-Gadhafi flags take part in a rally in Benghazi, Libya Tuesday, April 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Dutch Brig.-Gen. Mark van Uhm, Chief of Allied Operations, briefs the media on NATO's operation in Libya at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Tuesday, April 12, 2011. (AP / Virginia Mayo)
A rebel fighter shouts to others not to flee but to stand their ground, after brief shelling that landed near an ammunition dump, on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, Libya, Tuesday, April 12, 2011. (AP / Ben Curtis)
A rebel fighter climbs on top of a building to use a spotting scope to monitor the horizon for possible activity, on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, Libya Tuesday, April 12, 2011. (AP / Ben Curtis)