Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt has said that Nato raids to support Libyan rebels "will continue if the need to protect civilians continues".

During a momentous night rebels swept into the Libyan capital, Tripoli, apparently meeting little resistance from government forces. There are reports of fighting in pockets around the city, amid scenes of jubilation on the streets.

Mr Burt told the Today programme that Colonel Gaddafi should "leave now and spare further bloodshed". And he admitted that it would be "clearly a lot more difficult" to launch air strikes in built-up areas without civilian casualties.

In addition, he said that the UK is confident that the opposition National Transitional Council (NTC) is "aware of its responsibilities and intends to put into practice what it has been saying".

He told Today presenter Justin Webb that the NTC had already "announced the principles on which they want to see Libya transferred to a position of democracy, where people have the chance to choose their own government. They've said very clearly over the course of the last few days there should be no reprisals, order should be kept."

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