>> Heavy casualties reported in Libya fighting

>> Heavy clashes erupt in western Libya

Tripoli's eastern suburban town of Tajoura came under heavy NATO air strikes in the early hours of July 17, and at least 20 huge explosions were heard at the scene.

The air strikes have been going on for at least an hour and columns of heavy smoke were rising everywhere as a result of the bombing of the town, roughly 25 km east of Tripoli, the correspondents reported from there.

Libyan state television Al-Jamahiriya reported that NATO has raided civilian and military sites.

The television, quoting a military source, said there had been victims but did not give any figure.

Earlier, Gaddafi said that he would never leave his country or surrender in the face of rebel attacks and NATO airstrikes.

"They are asking me to leave. That's a laugh. I will never leave the land of my ancestors or the people who have sacrificed themselves for me," he said on July 16 in an audio address to supporters in the city of Zawiya,some 50 km west of Tripoli.

"After we gave our children as martyrs, we can't backtrack, or surrender or give up or move an inch," he said.

In his speech, Gaddafi also said the NATO air raids on Libya must stop to avoid more civilian casualties.

The embattled leader's speech came after Libya's main opposition group had been recognized by more than 30 nations as Libya's legitimate government.