AFRICA /LIBYA - "I went several times to the house that was hit and it did not look like a military command center", says Bishop Martinelli

Tripoli (Fides Service) - "I am surprised Khouildi Hamidi's house was hit, I do not think his house was a military center", says His Exc. Mgr. Giovanni Innocent Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli. According to Libyan officials, yesterday, June 20, in a NATO air strike on Sorman, 70 km west of Tripoli, 19 people died. The raid, according to sources in Tripoli, also hit the house of Khouildi Hamidi, one of the 12 members of the Revolutionary Command Council. Sources of the Atlantic Alliance say that the strike hit a military command center.
"I am not able to judge, but I went to that house several times and it seemed like a normal house", said Mgr.Martinelli, who describes Hamidi as "an open person, close to the people and very friendly. I had met him recently".
"I am saddened that a good part of his family have died under the bombs - the Bishop continues -. He and his son were not mentioned among the victims, perhaps they are safe. According to radio Libyan there are 19 victims, mostly women", says the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, who concludes confiding: "I am more and more bitter because you cannot see the will to find a peaceful solution to the crisis". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 06/21/2011)