MUAMMAR GADDAFI’S YOUNGEST son has been killed in a NATO airstrike which the Libyan leader managed to escaped from in Tripoli on Saturday. Three of his grandchildren, all under the age of 12, were also killed according to a government spokesman.

The strike, which came hours after Gaddafi called for a cease-fire and negotiations in what rebels called a publicity stunt, marked an escalation of international efforts to prevent the Libyan regime from regaining momentum.

Rebels honked horns and chanted “Allahu Akbar” or “God is great” while speeding through the western city of Misrata, which Gaddafi’s forces have besieged and subjected to random shelling for two months, killing hundreds.

The attack struck the house of Gaddafi’s youngest son, Saif al-Arab, when the Libyan leader and his wife were inside. White House spokesman Shin Inouye declined to comment on the developments in Libya, referring questions to NATO who would confirm only the airstrike.

The commander of the NATO operation, Canadian Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, said he was aware of unconfirmed reports that some Gaddafi family members may have been killed and he regretted “all loss of life, specially the innocent civilians being harmed as a result of the ongoing conflict.”

Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, 29, was the youngest son of Gaddafi and brother of the better known Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who had been touted as a reformist before the uprising began in mid-February. The younger Gaddafi had spent much of his time in Germany in recent years.

Gaddafi’s children had been increasingly engaged in covering up scandals fit for a “Libyan soap opera,” including negative publicity from extravagant displays of wealth such as a million-dollar private concert by pop diva Beyonce, according to a batch of diplomatic cables released by the secret-spilling WikiLeaks website.

But Saif al-Arab remained largely in the shadows, although he had a penchant for fast cars and partying when outside Libya.

Muammar Gaddafi and his wife were in the Tripoli house of his 29-year-old son when it was hit by at least one bomb dropped from a NATO warplane, according to Libyan spokesman Moussa Ibrahim, who added:

The leader himself is in good health. He was not harmed. The wife is also in good health.

Ibrahim would not give the names of the three children killed, except to say they were nieces and nephews of Saif al-Arab and that they were younger than 12. He said they are not releasing the names yet to protect the privacy of the family.

Libyans called in to a late-night television talk show to proclaim Saif al-Arab a martyr. A live shot from Gaddafi’s compound Bab al-Aziziya showed dozens dancing, chanting pro-Gaddafi slogans, waving green flags and clapping in unison.

The government spokesman said the airstrike was an attempt to “assassinate the leader of this country,” which he said violated international law.

Heavy bursts of gunfire were heard in Tripoli after the attack.

Rebel leaders have said they will only lay down their arms and begin talks after Gaddafi and his sons step aside. Gadhafi has repeatedly refused to resign. Rebel spokesman Jalal al-Galal said.

We don’t believe that there is a solution that includes him or any member of his family. So it is well past any discussions. The only solution is for him to depart.

- AP