The early morning blasts, which came from the direction of the Bab al-Aziziya area where Gaddafi's compound is located, shook the windows of a hotel where journalists are staying in the capital.

Two plumes of white smoke could be seen rising above the city following the blasts, as emergency vehicle sirens wailed and sporadic gunfire rang out.

The strikes came after Libyan state TV on Wednesday showed footage it said was of Gaddafi meeting with tribal leaders, the first new video of him aired since an April 30 air strike that the regime termed an attempt on his life.

The regime said that strike killed his son Seif al-Arab and three of his grandchildren, in "a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country."

State TV said the Wednesday footage was of a meeting between Gaddafi and tribal dignitaries from the east of Libya, an area held by rebels seeking his ouster.

AFP