BBC News with Gaenor Howells
The Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has addressed supporters massed in a central square in the capital Tripoli. State television showed him speaking from the old city walls and
denouncing
foreign interference. He urged the crowd to arm themselves and defend the nation and its oil against anti-government protesters who've taken control of large parts of the country. At one point, Colonel Gaddafi said he didn't
intend to
resign.
"If I were a president, I would have resigned, I would have thrown my resignation in your face, but I have no position, no post, I have nowhere to resign from. I have my gun, I have my rifle to fight for Libya."
Our correspondent Ian Pannell is on Libya's border with Tunisia, where he's been following the rapidly
unfold
ing developments.
It's been another violent day in many parts of Libya. While the east remains in the hands of the anti-Gaddafi opposition, the capital and parts of the west are being fought over. A mass day of protests had been called, and shortly after midday prayers, protesters came out onto the streets of Tripoli. But the elite brigades commanded by Gaddafi's sons appeared to have been ready. It's difficult to get a full picture
as to
what is still going on, but according to different eyewitness reports, the military opened fire on the demonstrators as they have in the past. There are unconfirmed reports that there have been a number of deaths and injuries in the clashes. The government is thought to have something in the region of 7,000 to 8,000 troops at its disposal, and they've already showed that they are willing to use them against the protesters in what is starting to look like a fight to the death.