Gaddafi son ‘dies in Nato airstrike’

The Prime Minister insisted individuals were not being targeted, and UN Security Council resolutions permitted attacks on “command and control” bases.

However the Libyan regime branded the missile strike as an illegal assassination attempt. Mobs stormed diplomatic premises belonging to the UK and other Nato members in Tripoli, prompting Foreign Secretary William Hague to expel Libya’s ambassador from London.

Mr Hague said Omar Jelban was “persona non grata” and had been given 24 hours to leave the country.

Diplomatic missions belonging to a number of Nato states have been targeted after the airstrike on Saturday reportedly killed Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, 29, the dictator’s sixth son, and three of his grandchildren.

Mr Hague said: “I condemn the attacks on the British Embassy premises in Tripoli as well as the diplomatic missions of other countries.

“The Vienna Convention requires the Gaddafi regime to protect diplomatic missions in Tripoli. By failing to do so that regime has once again breached its international responsibilities and obligations.

“I take the failure to protect such premises very seriously indeed.

“As a result, I have taken the decision to expel the Libyan Ambassador. He is persona non grata pursuant to article nine of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and has 24 hours to leave the country.

“The attacks against diplomatic missions will not weaken our resolve to protect the civilian population in Libya.”

Libyan Government officials say the house was hit by at least one missile fired by a Nato warplane, The younger Gaddafi had spent much of his time in Germany in recent years and had studied at a German university.

Spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said: “If people claim they want to protect civilians we have again and again declared that we are ready for negotiation, ready for road maps for peace, ready for political transitional periods, ready for elections, ready for referendum.

“Nato does not care to test our promises. The West does not care to test our statements. They only care to rob us of our freedom, our wealth, which is oil, and our right to decide our future as Libyans.”

Journalists taken to the walled complex of one-storey buildings in a residential Tripoli neighbourhood saw heavy bomb damage.

The blast had torn down the ceiling of one building and left a huge pile of rubble and twisted metal. Nato has not verified the reports that members of Gaddafi’s family had been killed.

Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, commander of Nato’s Operation Unified Protector, said: “All Nato’s targets are military in nature and have been clearly linked to the Gaddafi regime’s systematic attacks on the Libyan population and populated areas. We do not target individuals.”

Mr Cameron also refused to comment on the “unconfirmed report” but said: “The targeting policy of Nato and the alliance is absolutely clear.

“It is in line with UN resolution 1973 and it is about preventing a loss of civilian life by targeting Gaddafi’s war-making machine. That is obviously tanks and guns and rocket launchers but also command and control as well.

“It is about targeting command and control rather than particular individuals. ”

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said it would be “naive” to assume that command and control centres would be identified as such by the Libyan military.

It is understood that no British warplanes were involved in operations around Tripoli on Saturday.