BBC News with David Austin

There are conflicting reports about the future of the Syrian ambassador to France, Lamia Chakkour. The French television channel France24 carried a statement

purport

ing to be from her announcing her resignation in protest at the

suppression

of pro-democracy demonstrations, but that was later denied on Syrian television. From Paris, Hugh Schofield reports.

In a telephone interview on the French international television station France24, Lamia Chakkour said that she was stepping down with immediate effect. However, shortly after that interview was broadcast, Syrian state television had broadcast another interview with a woman it claimed was the ambassador to France. In it, she claimed she had not stepped down and that she would be suing France24. In Paris, the French television station

stands by

its interview, and the Reuters news agency says it has an email statement from the Syrian embassy confirming that she has quit her post. If this is true, it's the first resignation of a Syrian ambassador since the protest movement began, and it's a big

symbolic

boost to President Assad's opponents.

In Syria itself, residents of the town of Jisr al-Shughour are reported to be fleeing and building roadblocks

in fear of

a possible assault by government forces.State television in Libya has broadcast what it says is an audio message from Colonel Gaddafi saying he will remain in Tripoli, as he put it, dead or alive. The message came hours after Nato carried out one of its heaviest daytime raids on Tripoli so far. From Tripoli, Wyre Davies reports.