'NATO raids killed 718 Libyan civilians'

Islam Times reports from Press TV: The government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim announced the death and injured tolls in a news conference in Tripoli.

"Since March 19, and up to May 26, there have been 718 martyrs among civilians and 4,067 wounded -- 433 of them seriously," Ibrahim said.

He noted that these figures do not include Libyan military casualties.

NATO has conducted about thousands of sorties over Libya since it assumed control of the military campaign in the country in late March.

The airstrikes by the military alliance have killed dozens of civilians as well as revolutionary fighters.

This comes after the UN mandated the alliance to enforce a no-fly zone on Libya to protect civilian lives.

NATO has already been under criticism from the Libyan opposition for not doing enough to protect civilians.

The US and NATO have unleashed a punishing, UN-mandated offensive against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to pressure him into giving up power.

Experts say the main motive behind the Western attack on Libya is the vast oil reserves of the North African country.

Libya has been the scene of fierce fighting between pro-Gaddafi troops and anti-regime forces since mid-February.

Revolutionary forces want an end to Gaddafi's decades-long rule.