TRIPOLI: Sixteen “civilians” have been killed in a Nato air strike on Brega, to the east of the Libyan capital, state TV on Friday quoted a military source as saying.

Both Al-Libya and Al-Jamahiriya channels carried the report, which could not be independently verified.

Al-Libya said that in addition to those killed, there were “dozens of wounded” from the strike “last night.”

An international coalition began carrying out strikes on forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi on March 19. Nato took command of operations over Libya on March 31.

Massive protests in February -- inspired by revolts that toppled long-time autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt -- escalated into war when Qadhafi's troops fired on demonstrators and protesters seized several towns.