NATO Air Strike Kills 12 Rebels In Misurata

A rebel patrols the severely damaged Tripoli Street in the besieged city of Misurata on April 26.

Reports say that a NATO air strike has killed 12 rebels and wounded some 40 in the besieged city of Misurata in a friendly fire incident.

The air strike happened on April 27, the second day of intense fighting around Misurata's Mediterranean port -- the city's only lifeline to the outside world.

A spokesman for the rebel's Interim Transitional National Council said, "In war, mistakes happen that can be difficult to avoid."

There was no immediate comment from NATO.

This is the apparently the third time a NATO air strike has killed rebels since the alliance assumed command of operations over Libya at the end of March.

compiled from agency reports