BBC News with Zoe Diamond.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya has called on his supporters to go out onto the streets and attack what he called the “cockroaches” demonstrating against his rule. Speaking on state television, he urged loyal Libyans to chase the anti-government protestors, arrest them and hand them over to security forces.

“(er) Would you like America to come and occupy you like Afghanistan and Somalia, like Pakistan and Iraq? Is that what you want? If that’s what you want…If you don’t, go out to the street. Take to the street. Chase them. Disarm them.”

Colonel Gaddafi said anyone who took up arms against Libya would be executed.

“The death penalty will be

applied to

all those who cooperate with foreign states, or anybody who works in their interests, and anybody who harms the defence of the country.”

Colonel Gaddafi also said that he could not leave his country and would die a

martyr

at the end.

Shortly after Colonel Gaddafi ended his speech, a BBC correspondent in Tripoli heard the sound of guns being fired, apparently into the air. She said fireworks were also

set off

and cars drove through the city at high speed, their horns blaring. Earlier in the day, Tripoli was reported to be tense, with almost empty streets

enliven

ed only by lines of people queuing for bread and petrol.