Apache helicopters target military base in Libya

BRITISH Apache helicopters have targeted a military base being used by Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi's forces to terrorise local people, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

The raid came as Gaddafi threatened to carry out attacks against civilians in Europe unless Nato halts its campaign of air strikes.

The Nato-led international coalition said in a statement yesterday that its forces destroyed more than 50 military targets in the west of Libya last week.

The strikes are aimed at hitting forces loyal to Gaddafi which have been massing in western cities and along major lines of communication. MoD spokesman Major General Nick Pope said yesterday that Apaches from the Army Air Corps were used on Friday night to target the Al Mayah military camp near Az Zawiyah, west of Libyan capital Tripoli.

"The camp has been used by regime forces as a base from which to terrorise the local population," said Maj Gen Pope. "In a single mission before midnight, UK Apaches used Hellfire missiles and cannons to destroy or disable a command and control vehicle, a bunker firing position and three main battle tanks."

"We are engaging all military assets that are being used to indiscriminately target the civilian population throughout Libya," Lt Gen Charles Bouchard, commander of Nato's Libya mission, said.

Nato said more than 1.8 million civilians are at risk from a build-up of forces loyal to Gaddafi in western cities along the coast and in the Nafusa mountain range south-west of the capital. Nato has been striking Libya since March under a mandate to protect civilians.

Friday's successful sortie came after missions on Thursday night, in which RAF Typhoon and Tornado aircraft destroyed ammunition storage facilities near the central Libyan town of Waddan and a militarised 4x4 in the Al Khums area, near Tripoli. Speaking from an unknown location on Friday, Gaddafi sent a message by telephone to supporters rallying in Tripoli's Green Square.

He warned Nato countries that the Libyans would "one day take this battle… to Europe, to target your homes, offices, families, which would become legitimate military targets, like you have targeted our homes".

He added: "We can decide to treat you in a similar way. If we decide to, we are able to move to Europe like locusts, like bees.

"We advise you to retreat before you are dealt a disaster."

Thousands of supporters gathered in the main square of the capital Tripoli on Friday in one of the largest pro-government rallies in recent months, signalling that Gaddafi can still muster significant support.

A green cloth, several hundred yards long and held aloft by supporters, snaked above the crowd filling Tripoli's Green Square. Green is Libya's national colour.