US avoids comment on Tripoli raids

WASHINGTON: The US government late Saturday avoided comments on allegations that Libyan strongman Moamer Qadhafi's youngest son and three grandchildren were killed in a NATO bombing raid on Tripoli.

"We got calls from Libyans saying someone big was hit," a senior US administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "But as to who, I have only the same reports as you do."

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told reporters that 29-year-old Seif al-Arab Qadhafi, the Libyan leader's youngest son, and three of his grandchildren died in the air strike.

No independent confirmation of the incident was immediately available.

NATO said the raids would continue.