An assassination attempt?

[okmewriting.livejournal.com]

Nato strike 'kills Saif al-Arab Gaddafi', Libya says

A Nato air strike in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, has killed the son of the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi, a government spokesman has said.

Colonel Gaddafi himself was in the large residential villa which was hit by the strike, the spokesman added, but he was unharmed.

His son Saif al-Arab was killed, as well as three of his grandsons.

Journalists say the building was extensively damaged and one unexploded bomb remains at the site.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said the villa was attacked "with full power."

"The attack resulted in the martyrdom of brother Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, 29 years old, and three of the leader's grandchildren," he said.

"The leader with his wife was there in the house with other friends and relatives, the leader himself is in good health, he wasn't harmed."

"This was a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country," the spokesman added.

Saif al-Arab was the youngest of Muammar Gaddafi six sons.

source

What is the propaganda impact of this action, if true? What are the likely consequences? Is the family of a dictator a legitimate target?

Comments

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

This is much more then a "support role" for the rebellion. This is delibrate targeting... probably from bad intelligence. We all know that General Gaddaffi is a paranoid freak. He probably was in the complex, just 5 storeys underground.

[okmewriting.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised. I find it interesting that some commentators keep assuming that Gaddaffi is going to be feeling the same emotions as we would if this was happening to us. The man is a dictator, has been there for 42 years. Is he really going to be feeling those emotions?

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

The intelligence was perfect. After all, they got info that Gaddafi was inside, they targeted him, and almost killed him. I call that good intelligence. Now, whether this is right or not, is another point.