Huge explosion levels key Libyan rebels' arms depot

[chill_wind]

Source: McClatchy

Huge explosion levels key Libyan rebels' arms depot


By By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers
Friday, March 4, 2011

BENGHAZI, Libya — An arms depot that has provided many of the weapons that Libyan rebels have used to repulse attacks by units still loyal to Moammar Gadhafi exploded outside this rebel-held city Friday night, apparently killing dozens.

The cause of the explosion, which shook buildings in Benghazi, was unknown but the blast was so powerful that it overturned cars and demolished nearby homes.

“We’ve got pieces, arms and legs, so we don’t know how many people were killed,” said an official at the Harwadiya Medical Center, one of the facilities where casualties were rushed for treatment.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/04/109872/huge-explosion-levels-key-libyan.html

[maddezmom]

1. Gaddafi forces bomb arms store in Benghazi: rebels

Gaddafi forces bomb arms store in Benghazi: rebels
Sat Mar 5, 2011 8:12am GMT
Print | Single Page<-> Text <+> RAJMA, Libya (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombed an arms depot on the outskirts of Libya's second city of Benghazi in the east of the country, Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman for the rebel February 17th Coalition, told Reuters.
Al Jazeera television reported 17 people had been killed in the raid on the arms depot at Rajma near Benghazi. Al Arabiya put the death toll at 16.

The area around was cordoned off by rebel security forces, a Reuters witness said. There was a heavy smell of smoke and at least eight ambulances were seen ferrying casualties away from the scene.

"A lot of people have been killed. There are many people in the hospital. No one can approach, It's still very dangerous," said a resident who would only identify himself as Saleh.

more:http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE72401G20110305

[pinboy3niner]

2. Death toll reaches 27 for explosion of Benghazi arms dump

From AJE:

AFP says the death toll from last night's explosion at the arms dump in Benghazi has now reached 27.

"We're not quite sure whether it was sabotage, an accident or an air strike, but nobody saw any planes," Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman for the national council in Benghazi, told the agency.

We don't expect to find people intact (on the site). It has been estimated that around 40 people were in the compound.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/live-blog-libya-march-5