Charity says children raped during Libya conflict

Children as young as eight have been sexually assaulted during the conflict between rebels trying to oust the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and forces loyal to him, a British charity said on Saturday.

Save The Children said it had spoken to nearly 300 children in six temporary camps in rebel-held Benghazi and heard reports of rapes and murders committed within the last four weeks in Ras Lanuf, Ajdabiyah and Misrata. Michael Mahrt, who carried out the assessment, said the families and children spoke of "soldiers" committing the assaults, but the charity could not say which side they came from. (Reuters)