UN human rights head Navi Pillay has said that reports from Libya indicate thousands may have been killed or injured as the government crackdown escalates “alarmingly”.
Fighting continues to rage between anti-government forces and troops loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.
Libya’s food supply chain is at risk of collapse, says the UN’s food agency.
Nato ambassadors will hold emergency talks later today.
Libyan state TV has said the government will give families money to cover increased food costs, while some public sector workers will receive a pay rise of 150%.
Anti-government forces have seized much of the country, but Col Gaddafi is mounting a last stand in Tripoli with elite army units and foreign mercenaries.
Protesters have claimed that the regime has attacked demonstrations with live ammunition, heavy weapons and war planes, causing massive casualties.
The UK and France are now pushing for an arms embargo and a war crimes investigation, with the former planning to send a second ship to deploy to the sea near Libya.
The BBC reported that a number of European nations have begun mobilising their armed forces to assist in evacuation efforts.
An Irish team having earlier arrived in Malta aims to fly to Tripoli to help evacuate the 40 or so Irish citizens still in Libya.
26 Irish people are thought to be in the Libyan capital with 12 in the eastern city of Benghazi, RTÉ has said.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has stated during a news conference that Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi "must leave," calling the leader to step down. His comments were made during a press conference with the Turkish president Abdullah Gül in . Sarkozy also stated that military action to remove Gaddafi isn't ruled out.

"Our stance is clear. Mr Gaddafi must go. The systematic violence against the Libyan people is unacceptable and will be the subject of investigations and sanctions. Regarding a military intervention ... France would consider any initiative of this type with extreme caution and reserve," said Sarkozy. The United Kingdom is also calling for an arms embargo along with an investigation into war crimes be conducted against Gaddafi.

Sarkozy's call on Gaddafi to step down comes after violence on Friday alone has left at least five people dead in Tripoli, the capitol of Libya, when security personnel fired on demonstrators. At least 500 people are suspected to have been killed in Tripoli with over 2,000 injured. Gunshots were heard in several parts of the city on Friday. Navi Pillay, head of the human rights division of the United Nations says thousands in Libya could have been killed since the uprising began. Human Rights Watch puts the death toll at 300.

"We think this needs to be brought to the International Criminal Court. We also think that people who still cooperate with Gadhafi should be punished," added Sarkozy.

Reports say security forces loyal to Gaddafi have used rocket propelled grenades, snipers, anti aircraft guns and foreign mercenaries to repel protesters. Gaddafi blames Osama bin Laden and people on hallucinogenic drugs for the mass  protests in the country. "(The protesters') ages are 17. They give them pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe," he said on Thursday.

In a speech that aired on Libyan State TV today, Gaddafi said to supporters in Green Square in Tripoli, "We can defeat any aggression if necessary and arm the people. Prepare to defend the nation and defend the oil. We can retaliate against them the opposition. You, the youth, be comfortable... dance, sing, stay up all night."