FRESH explosions rocked Tripoli and its suburbs early today after NATO said its warplanes had hit a military command centre in the Libyan capital.

Two blasts occurred at 12.50am local time in the area housing strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s residence in the heart of the capital, followed by others in the city’s eastern and southeastern suburbs, an AFP journalist said, adding that planes were flying over the city.

A column of smoke was seen over Gaddafi’s residential complex, which had been targeted by NATO warplanes yesterday, when the transatlantic military alliance confirmed seven strikes and said they hit a military command centre.

Two more explosions were heard in the same area at about midday.

Saturday’s attack came after rebel forces said they had lost 16 fighters east of Tripoli and that they infiltrated the capital and attacked a regime command post where a son of the strongman was among officials targeted.

The rebels, who have been fighting to oust Gaddafi for more than five months, said the assault “seriously injured” a high-ranking member of Gaddafi’s security forces.