2011 Libya uprising - 2011-02-25

2. Gaddafi increasingly isolated Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's leader, has said that al-Qaeda is responsible for the uprising against him, amid attacks by pro-Gaddafi forces against anti-government protesters in several cities. In a speech made via telephone and aired on state television on Thursday, Gaddafi claimed that the protesters were young people who had been manipulated by Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda's leader, and were acting under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. As he spoke, troops loyal to Gaddafi launched a counter-offensive on Thursday against anti-government protesters, striking at two cities near the capital, Tripoli. - The worst violence was seen in the town of Az Zawiyah, about 50km west of Tripoli, where troops opened fire with automatic weapons and an anti-aircraft gun on a mosque where protesters had been taking shelter. In his speech, Gaddafi argued that he was a purely "symbolic" leader with no real political power, and that citizens had "no reason to complain whatsoever". He hinted that he would be prepared to raise salaries, but warned that protesters would be tried in the country's courts Gaddafi, who has ruled Libya for 41 years, is growing increasingly isolated both from foreign governments, but also from elements within his government and military. On Thursday Ahmed Gadhaf al-Dam, a cousin who is one of Gaddafi's closest aides, announced that he was renouncing Gaddafi's leadership in protest against "grave violations to human rights and human and international laws". Al-Dam is one of the highest level renouncals to hit the regime, with many ambassadors, as well as the justice and interior ministers, either resigning or announcing that they are standing with protesters. The country's chief prosecutor and chief judicial investigator have also resigned. Mustafa Abdel Galil, who earlier resigned as justice minister, spoke to Al Jazeera at a meeting of tribal leaders and representatives of eastern Libya in the city of Al Baida. That meeting was also attended by military commanders who refused orders to fire on protesters. "We want one country. There is no Islamic emirate or al-Qaeda anywhere. Our only aim is to liberate Libya from this regime and then people choose the government they want." Abdel Galil said. He warned that Gaddafi has biological and chemical weapons, and will not hesitate to use them. UN meeting planned The United Nations Security Council was to hold a meeting on the situation in Libya on Friday, with sanctions the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over the country under Article 7 of the UN charter on the table. The UN's highest human-rights body was also holding a special session to discuss what it's chief had earlier described as possible "crimes against humanity" by the Gaddafi government. The Swiss government, meanwhile, has ordered a freeze of any assets belonging to Gaddafi in the country. Libya's foreign ministry has denied that any such assets exist, and said that it would "sue" Switzerland. February 24 - The government has lost control of most of the country's east. Opposition leaders met on Thursday in the city of al-Bayda to demonstrate a united front against Col Gaddafi's grip on power. The total number of deaths has been impossible to determine. Human Rights Watch says it has confirmed nearly 300 deaths, but the International Federation for Human Rights says at least 700 people have been killed. A French doctor in Benghazi, Gerrard Buffet, told the BBC that as many as 2,000 people might have died in the east alone. Ships and military aircraft have been sent to evacuate thousands of foreign nationals trying to flee the turmoil in Libya. The death toll since violence began remains unclear, though on Thursday Francois Zimeray, France's top human rights official, said it could be as high as 2,000 people killed.

3. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times - Times staff photographers Rick Loomis and Luis Sinco are covering the turmoil in Libya. Sinco is in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi which is under protesters’ control and Loomis is on the border in Tunisia. - This is one in a series of occasional reports on their experiences.

4. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times – 2011 february 24

5. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times – 2011 february 24

6. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times – 2011 february 24

7. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times – 2011 february 24

8. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times – 2011 february 24

9. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times – 2011 february 24

10. PHOTOGRAPH BY: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times/ Los Angeles Times – 2011 february 24

11. Demonstrators demand the removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on February 24, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya. Eastern Libya is largely under opposition control, as Gaddafi's forces battled rebels near the capitol Tripoli. Getty Images / John Moore

12. Demonstrators climb atop an army talk while taking a break in a protest demanding the removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on February 24, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya. Eastern Libya is now largely under opposition control, as Gaddafi's forces battled rebels near the capitol Tripoli. Getty Images / John Moore

13. Demonstrators climb flag poles during a protest demanding the removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on February 24, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya. With eastern Libya now largely under opposition control, people have been celebrating life outside of Gaddafi rule. Getty Images / John Moore

14. An opposition militiaman stands guard in front of the charred national security building on February 24, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya. The building was destroyed last weekend as opposition forces battled troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Benghazi is now largely under opposition control, as Gaddafi's forces battled rebels near the capitol Tripoli. Getty Images / John Moore

15. Citizens tour an an underground jail that oppostion supporters excavated at a palace compound of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on February 24, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya. Getty Images / John Moore

16. A Libyan border guard walks through an empty customs hall on February 24, 2011 on the Libya-Egyptian border. Eastern Libya is now largely under opposition control, while forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi battled rebels near the capitol Tripoli. Getty Images / John Moore

17. Libyans celebrate outside the court house in the eastern dissident-held city of Benghazi on February 24, 2011 amid political turmoil and an insurrection against Moamer Kadhafi's regime. AFP/ Getty Images / Gianluigi Guercia

18. A Libyan man waves his old national flag as many celebrate outside the court house in the eastern dissident-held city of Benghazi on February 24, 2011 amid political turmoil and an insurrection against Moamer Kadhafi's regime. AFP/ Getty Images / Gianluigi Guercia

19. An injured supporter of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi sits in prison in the eastern dissident-held Libyan city of Beida on February 24, 2011 as the country witnesses political turmoil and an insurrection against Kadhafi's regime. AFP/ Getty Images / Gianluigi Guercia

20. Egyptians drive through the eastern dissident-held Libyan city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011 as they flee the political turmoil in the midst of an insurrection against Moamer Kadhafi's regime. AFP/ Getty Images / Patrick Baz

21. Getty Images - Libyan protesters ride on top of a fire brigade vehicule during a rally in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011 as residents of Libya's dissident-held east, frenzied by a deadly crackdown by Kadhafi's crumbling regime, vowed to march on the capital Tripoli.

22. Getty Images Members of Libya's Internal Security Forces (ISF) wave their old national flag as they parade in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011 as residents of Libya's dissident-held east, frenzied by a deadly crackdown by Moamer Kadhafi's crumbling regime, vowed to march on the capital Tripoli.

23. Getty Images A vandalised portrait of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi with a cross drawn around his neck is pictured at an abandonned army base in the eastern dissident-held city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011 after the base was stormed by anti-government protesters on February 20.

24. Getty Images - Libyan children with their faces painted in the colours of their old national flag, take part in a protest in the eastern dissident-held Libyan city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011 amid political turmoil and an insurrection against Kadhafi's regime.

25. Getty Images A protester holds a drawing depicting the Libyan map kicking away leader Moamer Kadhafi and the Arabic writing 'Libya is free and Kadhafi will leave' during a demonstration in the eastern dissident-held city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011 amid political turmoil and an insurrection against Kadhafi's regime.

26. A Libyan anti-government protester holds his old national flag in front of a wall covered with graffiti against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images /

27. Getty Images Libyan protesters flash the V for 'victory' sign and hold a caricature of leader Moamer Kadhafi during a rally in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011 as residents of Libya's dissident-held east, frenzied by a deadly crackdown by Kadhafi's crumbling regime, vowed to march on the capital Tripoli.

28. Getty Images - Libyan protesters carry a caricature showing a hand throwing leader Moamer Kadhafi in a garbage container in Tobruk on February 24, 2011 as residents of Libya's dissident-held east, frenzied by a deadly crackdown by Kadhafi's crumbling regime, vowed to march on the capital Tripoli.

29. FEBRUARY 24: A man delivers a belt of ammunition to a former jail serving as a security complex in Benghazi, Libya. Forces loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi were reported to be striking back in several cities surrounding Tripoli on Thursday, as rebellion crept closer to the capital and defections of military officers multiplied. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)

30. A Libyan mortuary assistant stands in front of a room containing unidentified burned bodies of people killed during last week's demonstrations against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, at a morgue, in Benghazi, Libya, Thursday Feb. 24, 2011. AP / Hussein Malla

31. A Libyan gunman flashes a V sign as he stands on a military truck loaded with launcher rockets at Al-Katiba military base after it fell to anti-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi protesters few days ago, in Benghazi, Libya, on Thursday Feb. 24, 2011. AP / Hussein Malla

32. Anti-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi protesters demonstrate in Benghazi, Libya, on Thursday Feb. 24, 2011. AP / Hussein Malla

33. Gunmen prepared to fight against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi stand on a small military truck with weapons taken from a Libyan military base, in Benghazi, Libya, on Thursday Feb. 24, 2011. Army units and militiamen loyal to Moammar Gadhafi struck back Thursday against rebellious Libyans who have risen up in cities close to the capital, attacking a mosque where many were holding an anti-government sit-in and battling others who seized control of an airport. Medical officials said 15 people were killed in the clashes. AP / Hussein Malla

34. Members of Libya's police forces waving their old national flag transport children in their pick-up truck as they parade in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images /

35. A Libyan man closes a box of ammunition at Al-Katiba military base after it fell to anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi protesters, in Benghazi, Libya, on Thursday Feb. 24, 2011. AP / Hussein Malla

36. A Libyan man walks next to a destroyed storage inside Al-Katiba military base after it fell to anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi protesters, in Benghazi, Libya, on Thursday Feb. 24, 2011. AP / Hussein Malla

37. Libyan protesters hold a caricature mocking leader Moamer Kadhafi during a rally in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Patrick Baz

38. Libyan protesters ride on top of a fire brigade vehicule during a rally in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Patrick Baz

39. Members of Libya's Internal Security Forces (ISF) parade in the eastern city of Tobruk on February 24, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Patrick Baz

40. El Faitory Meftah El Bouras holds a portrait of his son Fathig during a protest demanding the removal of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on thursday in Benghazi, Libya. He said that his son was just one of many thousands of political prisoners killed by Libyan security forces during the decades of Gadhafi rule. - John Moore / Getty Images

41. Suspected African mercenaries held by Libyan anti-government protesters stand in a courtroom in Benghazi on Thursday. February 24 - About a dozen people accused of supporting Moammar Gadhafi were being held. Some were said to be from southern Libya and some were from other African nations. - Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

42. Libyan mortuary assistants Thursday 2011, february 24 check unidentified burned bodies of people killed last week during demonstrations against Moammar Gadhafi. They are at a hospital morgue in Benghazi. - Hussein Malla / AP

43. A man gestures in front of burnt vehicles in a state security building in Tobruk, Libya, on Thursday 2011, february 24. - Suhaib Salem / Reuters

44. LIBYA Protesters chant anti-government slogans as they demonstrate in a square in Benghazi city, Libya, February 23, 2011. Thousands of Libyans celebrated the liberation of the eastern city of Benghazi from the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, who was reported to have sent a plane to bomb them on Wednesday as he clung to power. The crew bailed out of the aircraft after it took off from the capital Tripoli. It then came down south-west of Benghazi, Libya's Quryna newspaper cited a military source as saying, averting a fresh bloodshed in almost a week of violence. REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH

45. LIBYA Munitions lie in a state security building taken over by anti-government protesters in Ben Ghazi February 23, 2011. REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH

46. LIBYA An anti-government protester holds a banner depicting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Benghazi city, Libya, February 23, 2011. The characters read "I'm the only devil" (top) and "the waste bin of history". REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH

47. An anti-government protester holds a picture of a victim of the protests which took place in the last few days during a protest in a square in Benghazi city, Libya, February 23, 2011. REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH

48. A protester looks at the pictures of protesters who were killed during the last few days during the uprising against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Benghazi city, Libya, February 23, 2011. REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH

49. Protesters chant anti-government slogans in Benghazi city, Libya, February 23, 2011. REUTERS/ASMAA WAGUIH

50. A Libyan protester holds a weapon as he shouts slogans against Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi, during a demonstration in Tobruk, Libya, Wednesday Feb. 23, 2011. AP / Hussein Malla