20110407
Reuters
AJDABIYAH, Libya (Reuters) - A NATO air strike hit a Libyan rebel position near the oil town of Brega on Thursday, killing at least five people, rebel fighters and a hospital worker said.

Reuters reporter Michael Georgy saw bloodstained stretchers being brought out of the hospital in Ajdabiyah, where those wounded in the attack were being treated.

"It was a NATO air strike on us. We were near our vehicles near Brega," wounded fighter Younes Jumaa said from his stretcher at the hospital.

It was the second time in less than a week that rebels blamed NATO for bombing their comrades by mistake. Thirteen died in an air strike not far from the same spot on Saturday.

Nurse Mohamed Ali said at least five people died in Thursday's attack. Medical workers carried uniforms soaked in blood from one of hospital rooms.

Some rebel fighters were weeping on their knees in the corridor.

"We were standing by our tanks and NATO fired two rockets at us," said one, Salem Mislat. "NATO are liars. They are siding with Gaddafi."