Nato planes have launched a series of air attacks on Libya's capital Tripoli, with correspondents saying they may be the largest so far of the campaign.

北约飞机已对利比亚首都的黎波里实行一系列空袭，通讯员称这是目前为止此次军事行动中最大的一次袭击。

Some of the strikes appear to have targeted Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound.

They came after France announced it and the UK would also deploy¹ attack helicopters to escalate²（逐步增强） strike power.

Nato is enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians³, following the uprising against Col Gaddafi's rule.

Plumes⁴ of smoke

Between 12 and 20 explosions were reported in the early hours of Tuesday.

The BBC's Andrew North, in Tripoli, said the first blasts were in the vicinity of（在附近） Bab al-Aziziya and were followed by more in other parts of the city.

He says the hotel journalists have been staying in was shaken to its foundation by some of the blasts.

After each a Nato aircraft could be heard in the sky.

Plumes of smoke were rising from the area of Bab al-Aziziya and anti-aircraft guns were firing.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said three people were killed and 150 wounded in the strikes.

Mr Ibrahim said barracks（兵营） of a volunteer unit of the Libyan army had been targeted but most of the casualties were civilians living nearby. The statements could not be independently verified.

Our correspondent says he has not been taken to the barracks but was escorted（护送） to a hospital and shown people said to have been injured in the strikes.

He says people have come out on to the streets to show support for Col Gaddafi.

The attacks came after French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet confirmed media reports that France was deploying⁵ attack helicopters to Nato's Libya mission.

He also said Britain would send helicopters. He said both countries would deploy the new forces as soon as possible.

The UK has yet to confirm the deployment⁶.