NATO bombing of Tripoli paused on Wednesday morning after some of the heaviest bombardments of the Libyan capital since air strikes began in March, but rebels said Muammar Gaddafi's army continued to shell their positions. A Reuters reporter in Tripoli said no further explosions were heard after about 2 a.m. (0000 GMT). Loud blasts had been shaking Tripoli throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, with warplanes hitting the city several times an hour. NATO defence ministers met in Brussels on Wednesday, but there were few signs of willingness to intensify their Libya mission, which has so far failed to oust Gaddafi. The alliance says the bombing aims to protect civilians from the Libyan leader's military, which crushed popular protests against his rule in February, leaving many dead. -- SPA
