Bombs hit Gaddafi residential compound
(Video) Missile destroys office near Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli. Britain questions Libyan ceasefire declaration; US stresses won't lead military operation. British defense secretary says Gaddafi could be targeted
VIDEO - An air strike against an administrative building in a compound including Muammar Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli has destroyed the Libyan leader's "command and control capability", a coalition official says.
The building, which was roughly 50 metres from the tent where the Gaddafi generally meets guests, was flattened.
Smoke was seen billowing from the residence and barracks at Bab el-Aziziya in the south of the Libyan capital as anti-aircraft guns fired shots, AFP reported.
Meanwhile, Britain responded to Libya's ceasefire declaration, following a meeting of the National Security Council: "Everyone will recall that in recent days Colonel Gaddafi declared a ceasefire which was promptly violated," a statement on behalf of Prime Minister David Cameron noted.
"We said then we would judge him on his actions not his words - and we will do so again.
"His obligations are very clearly set out by the UN Security Council Resolution. Our assessment is that he is in breach of these obligations so we will continue to enforce the Resolution."
Anti-aircraft missile attack in Tripoli (Photo: AP)
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that the US expects to turn control of the Libya military mission over to a coalition — probably headed either by the French and British or by NATO — "in a matter of days."
In his first public remarks since the start of the bombings, Gates said President Barack Obama felt very strongly about limiting America's role in the operation, adding that the president is "more aware than almost anybody of the stress on the military."
"We agreed to use our unique capabilities and the breadth of those capabilities at the front of this process, and then we expected in a matter of days to be able to turn over the primary responsibility to others," Gates told reporters traveling with him to Russia.
"We will continue to support the coalition, we will be a member of the coalition, we will have a military role in the coalition, but we will not have the preeminent role."
'Gaddafi could be targeted'
British defense secretary Liam Fox said Sunday it was possible that Gaddafi could become a target of air attacks if the safety of civilians could be guaranteed, The Guardian reported.
Speaking on a radio show, Fox said: "Mission accomplished would mean the Libyan people free to control their own destiny. This is very clear – the international community wants his regime to end and wants the Libyan people to control for themselves their own country."
The British secretary further added: "Regime change is not an objective, but it may come about as a result of what is happening amongst the people of Libya.
"When the dynamic shifts and the equilibrium shifts, we will get a better idea just how much support the Gaddafi regime has and how much the people of Libya genuinely long to be able to control their own country.
"If Colonel Gaddafi went, not every eye would be wet."
Fox said it was possible that allied forces might treat Gaddafi himself as a legitimate target for air strikes.
"There is a difference between someone being a legitimate target and whether we go ahead and target him," he said. "You would have to take into account what would happen to civilians in the area, what might happen in terms of collateral damage. We don't simply with a gung-ho attitude start firing off missiles."
However, US officials said they were not targeting Gaddafi. On Sunday US Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said at a Pentagon press briefing: "We are not going after Gadhafi."
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