Rebels Celebrate As Isolated Gaddafi Rages
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has taken to Libyan state TV to vent his defiance of protests that threaten to sweep him from power - but his violent response to them is leaving him increasingly isolated.
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Gaddafi called in to a television studio and spoke over the phone to a presenter, using the appearance to blame the unrest on a "bunch of youths" fuelled by drugs in their coffee.
Fighting between his forces and rebels raged as the broadcast was made in the town of Zawiya.
Elsewhere across the country rebels celebrated seizing power by showing off the tanks, armoured vehicles and weapons they had taken from Gaddafi's security forces.
Rebels to the east of Tripoli are now said to be in control of key Libyan oil and product terminals.
Benghazi residents said the terminals at Ras Lanuf and Marsa El Brega were being protected.
A further blow to Gaddafi came as his cousin and one of his closest aides, Ahmed Gadhaf al Dam, defected to Egypt in protest against the regime's bloody crackdown on protesters.
They give them (the protesters) pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe. Colonel Gaddafi, speaking on state television
Internationally, bad news was also mounting for the dictator who has ruled Libya for 41 years.
The UN Security Council is to meet to consider further options that could include sanctions because a press statement issued earlier this week is "clearly not being heeded".
US President Barack Obama's spokesman has said he will talk to the leaders of Britain and France about the crisis, and that Washington is keeping all options open, including sanctions - and even military action.
The US said it supported expelling Libya from the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying the government had violated the rights of its people in trying to crush the protests.
And Switzerland announced it was freezing any assets belonging to the beleaguered leader within its borders.
In his TV address, his third statement since the rebellion began, Gaddafi said the protesters were teenagers who were being given drugs in their coffee.
He also blamed the uprising on al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
"(The protesters') ages are 17," he said.
"They give them pills at night, they put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe.
"They are criminals... is it logical that you let this phenomenon continue in any city?"
Gaddafi also offered his condolences to those who had died in the unrest, calling them "Libya's children".
He added: "Whoever is pulling the strings has to be apprehended and detained.
"People who have taken to the streets are just a bunch of youths that have been misled and lied to.
Muammar Gaddafi's son, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, has also spoken on Libyan TV
"I call on the people of Libya to get our of their houses and confront and face this bunch of people.
"If men are not brave enough to go out and face the enemy on the street, then maybe they should let their women and daughters go out instead."
:: Click here to see an interactive map of how and why unrest is spreading in Libya and other Middle Eastern countries
Several people have reportedly been killed by pro-Gaddafi forces near the town of Misratah.
A witness, who only wanted to be identified as Mohamed, said a unit of paramilitary forces controlled by one of Gaddafi's sons, Khamis, attacked near Misratah airport.
"Khamis's brigade launched a violent attack on protesters near the airport this morning at around 10:30 (0830 GMT).
"The brigade has managed to control the site but we are still trying to push it back," he said.
Gaddafi's son, Saif al Islam Gaddafi, has also spoken on Libyan television, and denied the government had launched airstrikes against Libyan cities.
He also claimed the number of protesters killed had been exaggerated.
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."