Seven civilians were killed and 18 others wounded in an air strike by NATO warplanes on Libya's Khelet al-Ferjan, a southwestern suburb in the capital Tripoli, late Wednesday, state-run JANA news agency reported Thursday, citing a military source.

The agency said the air raid destroyed some houses and caused panic among women and children in the area.

Separately, it said four people were killed in NATO air strikes launched on Bir Al-Ghanam, 50 km southwest of Tripoli, earlier Wednesday.

The world's major powers, Britain, the United States and France, started on March 19 to launch strikes from the air and sea against Gaddafi's forces after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and authorize "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya.