There are diplomatic efforts to settle the crisis. Colonel Gadhafi sent a delegation to meet with African officials in Ethiopia on Friday. But the rebels did not send a representative.

Anti-government protests continued in other Arab countries, including Syria, Yemen and Jordan.

There were reports from southern Syria on Friday that security forces killed fifteen or more protesters. The protesters were trying to reach Daraa, near the Jordanian border. Similar violence was reported there earlier in the week.

Protesters demanding freedom held demonstrations Friday in several locations across Syria, including the capital. In Damascus, after Friday prayers, at least two hundred people demonstrated in support of the people of Daraa. Reuters news agency reported large numbers of arrests.

The United States has condemned what it called "brutal repression of demonstrations" in Syria. On Thursday the Syrian government said it will consider reforms including an end to years of emergency law.

In Japan, the nuclear emergency continued. The nation is dealing with new concerns that damage to the Fukushima nuclear power station could release more radiation.

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On Friday Prime Minister Naoto Kan described the situation as "very grave and serious." People living between twenty and thirty kilometers of Fukushima have now been advised to leave the area.

Police in Japan say more than ten thousand people are now known to have died in the March eleventh quake and tsunami. More than seventeen thousand are still missing. And about three hundred thousand are living in temporary shelters.