Rome, May 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has denied reports that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son and three grandchildren were killed in a NATO air strike earlier this month, Italy's Ansa news agency reported.

Libyan state-run JANA news agency earlier reported that the NATO air strike on a wealthy residential area in Tripoli May 1 killed Gaddafi's youngest son, Saif al-Arab, 29.

The air strike on Gaddafi's house, according to the agency, also killed three of his grandchildren as well as several friends and neighbours.

"Gaddafi's youngest son is not in Libya and is living in another country just like his three grandchildren," Berlusconi said adding that earlier reports were nothing but propaganda of the Libyan regime.

The latest revolt against Libya leader Gaddafi's 40-year rule began in mid-February. It has already claimed thousands of lives, with Gaddafi's troops maintaining their combat capabilities despite NATO air strikes against them.