A split has emerged within NATO over the bombing of Libya. Italy is calling on other member states to halt the international assault and allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid. But the NATO leadership is vowing to continue launching air strikes, saying any pause would increase civilian casualties and strengthen the forces behind Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi. A NATO air strike this week reportedly killed a number of civilians — including two children — in the capital city of Tripoli. Thousands of people gathered on Wednesday to bury the dead. Libyan government spokesperson Moussa Ibrahim condemned the NATO bombings.

Moussa Ibrahim: “We have been calling for peace and negotiation for months, and no one wants to listen to us. Now we have to pay a very heavy price of casualties, civilian casualties and also military casualties. I think the time has come for the world to understand that this conflict has to come to an end immediately.”