The Libyan authorities say NATO air strikes killed more than 700 civilians since bombing began in March.

Moussa Ibrahim, Libyan governmental spokesman, said since March 19, 718 were killed and 4,067 wounded, 433 of them severely, in the attacks. He stressed that the figures did not include military casualties.

A wave of protest has flared in Libya since February 2011 against Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. The clashes turned into a civil war between pr-Gaddafi and anti-governmental forces. Since March NATO has taken command of the coalition air operations in Libya.