Al-Arabiya television also quoted eyewitnesses as saying clashes in the Libyan capital on Monday have left 160 people dead. The Arab satellite channel gave the number in a newsflash, without providing further details.

In the Al Jazeera broadcast, Adel Mohamed Saleh, who called himself a political activist, said the bombings had initially targeted a funeral procession.

“What we are witnessing today is unimaginable. Warplanes and helicopters are indiscriminately bombing one area after another. There are many, many dead,” he said.

“Our people are dying. It is the policy of scorched earth.” he said. “Every 20 minutes they are bombing.”

Asked if the attacks were still happening he said: “It is continuing, it is continuing. Anyone who moves, even if they are in their car they will hit you.”

There was no independent verification of the report but Fathi Al-Warfali, the Libyan activist who heads the Swiss-based Libyan Committee for Truth and Justice, who was taking part in a protest outside UN European headquarters in Geneva said he had heard the same reports.

“Military planes are attacking civilians, protesters in Tripoli now. The civilians are frightened. Where is the United Nations, where is Amnesty International?” Al-Warfali told Reuters.
 

Amid the increasing violence, Libya’s ambassadors at the United Nations called for leader Qaddafi to step down as the country’s ruler.

Deputy Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi said Monday that if Qaddafi does not relinquish power, “the Libyan people will get rid of him.”

Dabbashi urged the international community to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent mercenaries, weapons and other supplies from reaching Qaddafi and his security forces.

Dabbashi also said he was not resigning.

The diplomat says the Libyan delegation is also urging the International Criminal Court to investigate possible crimes against humanity committed against the Libyan people during the current protests.

Another former Libyan official, meanwhile, called on Seif Al-Islam Qaddafi, son of the Libyan leader, to start talks with the opposition.

In a statement that signifies disagreement inside Libya’s ruling elite, Mohamed Bayou — who until a month ago was chief government spokesman — said the leadership was wrong to threaten violence against its opponents.

“I hope that he will ... change his speech to acknowledge the existence of an internal popular opposition, to enter into dialogue with them regarding thorough changes in the Libyan system,” Bayou said in a statement obtained by Reuters.