NATO on Saturday bombed three satellite transmission dishes in Tripoli, which were used by Libyan state TV to broadcast government messages, the military alliance said.

The airstrikes were "necessary", because the state TV was being used by the Gaddafi regime to "oppress and threaten civilians and to incite attacks against them," said Colonel Roland Lavoie, spokesman for NATO's Libya mission.

Striking the three satellite dishes will reduce "the regime's ability to oppress civilians", while "preserve television broadcast infrastructure that will be needed after the conflict," he said in a statement.

However, according to local media reports, the Libyan television continued to broadcast Saturday following the airstrikes.