On Friday, Libyan rebels said a NATO air attack had killed Moammar Gadhafi's son Khamis, who is the commander of one of the Libyan leader's most loyal and best-equipped military units.A spokesman for the rebels said the air strike had killed 32 people in Zlitan, where Khamis Gadhafi's 32nd Brigade is believed to have been at the vanguard of Tripoli's defenses. NATO has not confirmed the report of his death, and Tripoli's government was not immediately available to comment. NATO did say on Thursday that it hit a command-and-control target in the area.
Khamis' death would be a severe blow for his father's campaign to resist a six-month-old uprising and remain in power. The brigade under Khamis' command is seen as one of the best units in Libya and a central part of the government's security apparatus.
| Update: Tripoli calls report 'a dirty trick' |
| That's not quite the same as saying it isn't true, but 48 hour rule applies. |