Nato's air campaign has Libyan naval vessels in its sights

NATO fighter jets struck three ports in bombing runs, targeting Col Gaddafi's navy in an effort to protect the nearby rebel-held port of Misrata, Nato said yesterday. It was the broadest attack on Libya's naval forces since the alliance joined the conflict.

One bombing run hit the main port of Tripoli, where flames and smoke could be seen rising above a stricken warship into the night sky. Other targets were the Khoms port, between Tripoli and Misrata, and Sirte, east of the city.

In Brussels, Nato confirmed its warplanes targeted the ports and accused Libya of using its ships in the escalating conflict, including attempts to mine the harbour in Misrata.

Rebels trying to end the near 40-year rule of the Libyan leader have been struggling to hold Misrata against repeated attacks by his forces.

Major-general John Lorimer, a UK communications officer, said British warplanes hit two Libyan corvettes in the Khoms harbour and "successfully targeted a facility in the dockyard constructing fast inflatable boats, which Libyan forces have used several times in their efforts to mine Misrata and attack vessels in the area".

He said the port was the nearest concentration of regime warships to of Misrata, which Col Gaddafi has attempted to close to humanitarian shipping.

Mohammed Rashid, general manager of the Tripoli port, said the coastguard boats were used to patrol for immigrant boats trying to make it to Europe.

He claimed damage was minimal. A government official later said he feared the Nato strike would discourage ships from using the Tripoli port, reducing imports and driving up the cost of goods for Libyans.

Yesterday a Nato strike hit a police academy in the Tripoli district of Tajoura, a government official said.