TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Dozens of people were reported killed in Tripoli overnight as anti-government protests reached the Libyan capital for the first time and the building where the country's parliament meets was ablaze on Monday.
One of Muammar Gaddafi's sons said the veteran leader would fight the popular revolt that has shaken his 40-year rule until "the last man standing."Anti-government protesters rallied in Tripoli's streets, tribal leaders spoke out against Gaddafi, and army units defected to the opposition in a revolt that has cost the lives of more than 200 people.
Output at one of the country's oil fields was reported to have been stopped by a workers' strike and some European oil companies withdrew expatriate workers and suspended operations.'l
Al Jazeera television quoted medical sources as saying 61 people had been killed in the latest protests in Tripoli.
It said security forces were looting banks and other government institutions in Tripoli and protesters had broken into several police stations and trashed them.The building where the General People's Congress, or parliament, meets when it is in session in Tripoli was on fire on Monday morning, a Reuters reporter said.The eastern city of Benghazi, where the protests began last week after the arrest of a human rights lawyer and where scores of people have been killed by security forces, was said by some residents to be effectively in the hands of the protesters.Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi appeared on national television in an attempt both to threaten and to calm people, saying the army would enforce security at any price to put down one of the bloodiest revolts to convulse the Arab world."We will keep fighting until the last man standing, even to the last woman standing."Wagging a finger at the camera, he accused Libyan exiles of fomenting the violence. But he also promised dialogue on reforms and wage rises.In an indication of disagreement inside Libya's ruling elite, Mohamed Bayou -- who until a month ago was chief government spokesman -- said the leadership was wrong to threaten violence against its opponents.Bayou called on Saif al-Islam to start talks with the opposition.
GREEN SQUARE
A Tripoli resident said that late on Sunday night protesters against Gaddafi had been replaced by his supporters, who rallied in the centre of the city around Green Square until about 5 a.m. (4 a.m. British time)."After Saif al-Islam's speech, the pro-Gaddafi people, especially the youth, were touring the streets, particularly in the centre, cheering Gaddafi. These people stayed up the whole night, they were marching all night, some driving in cars."They were in Green Square and along Omar al-Mokthar street. I would say there were hundreds," he said."Last night during the rioting there were police around and they were shooting into the air. But after that there have been no police around," added the Tripoli resident.
