Children salute Gaddafi as NATO meets on bomb strikes

The chief of Nato today urged greater participation by member countries in the push to depose Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

The alliance's defence ministers were beginning a two-day meeting in Brussels and Nato secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen wants more countries from the 28 members to share the costs and risks.

"Obviously some of those allies and partners carrying the heavy burden start to ask whether it would be possible to broaden the participation a bit," he said. On the agenda will be what strategy to adopt after the air campaign ends and during a possible transition to rebel control.

Early today 10 explosions shook the capital Tripoli after the heaviest daytime raids of the nine-week campaign yesterday. Nato said the targets were command and control centres in and around the city, with more than 20 strikes by low-flying jets.

Gaddafi vowed to fight to the death. "We will not surrender: we only have one choice - to the end! Death, victory, it does not matter, we are not surrendering!" he said on state TV.