NATO warplanes bombed early Saturday Libyan state TV satellite transmitters in the capital Tripoli, a Xinhua correspondent said.

Despite the bombing, state television is still on the air and showed footage of damages caused by the bombardment and large cracks in buildings.

NATO spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie confirmed the report.

"A few hours ago NATO conducted a precision airstrike that disabled three ground-based Libyan state TV satellite transmission dishes in Tripoli," he said.

NATO said the airstrikes were down to hurt the use of the satellite television to "intimidate the Libyan people and incite acts of violence against them.''