‘The house of Mr Sayf al-Arab Moamer Qadhafi... who is the youngest of the leader's children, was attacked tonight with full power. The leader with his wife was there in the house with other friends and relatives,’ Moussa Ibrahim told a news conference in Tripoli early on Sunday morning.

‘The attack resulted in the martyrdom of brother Sayf al-Arab Moamer Kadhafi, 29 years old, and three of the leader's grandchildren,’ Ibrahim said.

‘The leader himself is in good health; he wasn't harmed. His wife is also in good health; she wasn't harmed, (but) other people were injured,’ he said.

‘This was a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country.’

Ibrahim had earlier taken journalists to the remnants of a house in Tripoli. Given the level of destruction, it is unclear that anyone could have survived, raising the possibility that if Qadhafiwas there, he had left beforehand.

Three loud explosions were heard in Tripoli on Saturday evening as jets flew overhead. Volleys of anti-aircraft fire rang out following the first two strikes, which were followed by a third.

An international coalition began carrying out strikes on forces loyal to Qadhafion March 19 under a United Nations Security Council mandate to protect Libyan civilians.

NATO took command of operations over Libya on March 31.

Massive protests in February -- inspired by the revolts that toppled long-time autocrats in Egypt and Tunisia -- escalated into war when Qadhafi troops fired on demonstrators and protesters seized several eastern towns.