By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Paris : French military planes have destroyed the command centre of Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi, spokesman for the French Armed forces Thierry Burkhard said Monday.
NATO took over command of the coalition military intervention in Libya from the US Sunday. The mission is trying to ensure a no-fly zone and arms embargo over the country.
The strikes, conducted by two French Rafale fighter patrols, struck the centre, located 10 km from Tripoli, Sunday.
No further strikes were conducted by French forces Monday, said Burkhard.
Earlier Monday, France and Britain urged Gaddafi’s supporters to “defect before it is too late”.
The rebel army, which has been fighting pro-Gaddafi forces since mid-February, has made rapid advancements into the west of Libya since the coalition mission began.