during a televised speech on monday the leader's second son, saif al islam gadhafi, said the government will fight the protesters until the very end, the death toll is likely to rise further. gadhafi is facing growing criticism from within his government. a local newspaper report says the justice minister resigned to protest the heavy use of weapons. libyan diplomats in india and china also announced their resignation. the country's deputy u.n. envoy says gadhafi should resign to take responsibility for killing so many libyans. >> do you think mr. gadhafi should step down, resign? >> he has to. he has to. he has kept his power by force and the killing and mass killings all over. i mean, the humanitarian -- i mean the crime against humanity. >> the envoy said he has asked the u.n. security council to quickly start talks to resolve the situation. >>> in neighboring egypt libyans protested in front of their embassy and called for gadhafi's immediate resignation. some 200 demonstrators shouted anti-government slogans such as "it's the last day for gadhafi and the next outgoing dictator shou

organizations have put the death toll at over two hundred in a tell of ours national address say fall islam gadhafihas said only fourteen people died also dismissive reports that his father fled the country meanwhile the unjust continues to spread further through the region with protests in yemen buckling and block zero.

safe islam gadhafi said this number was exaggerated also dismissing reports that his father has fled the country meanwhile the unrest continues to spread her through the region with protests in yemen and bahrain and that mako regional expert a.t.'s who she says that global dominance groups are behind the way the whole us. we might be getting rid of of thirty forty or fifty euro regime but many of these countries certainly in egypt certainly in libya certainly in tunisia and back ring that might be getting themselves into just as bad or even worse trouble if they don't really understand the social proof so this is going on and we our full interests that may be driving them from outside of the middle east because i think this ties into a whole global pattern to we have to understand the major geo political term planning emanating from such organizations as the council of foreign relations the trilateral commission and the builder berggruen who afford to take a bit in fighting the arab world and have been fighting the sovereign nation state as an institution on a global basis so in a wa

testers say follow islam gadhafi also confirm that wyatt has had seize military bases tanks and other equipment and warned of a looming civil war that will wipe out the nation's oil well. in while the other day about developments across the region rioters continued to clash with government supporters in the yemeni capital sanaa with gunfire heard in the streets while in bahrain opposition is preparing opposite the opposition is preparing for talks with authorities after deadly clashes of the government forces saw six people killed and dozens wounded and morocco was also seeing on arrest with at least five thousand people taking to the streets of the capital rabat demanding king mohamed give up some of his powers middle east expert mahdi darrius now as i mariah tells our team that although the region is in turmoil it's hard to say whether it will see any fundamental changes these are revolts and not revolutions yet people's mindsets a revolutionary they want change they're fed up with these are revolts until the structures in place change it won't be considered a revolution so in order

with protesters safe all islam gadhafi also confirmed rioters have seized military bases tanks and other equipment and warned of a looming civil war that could wipe out the nation's oil well meanwhile in other developments across the region rioters continued to clash with government supporters in the yemeni capital side not with gunfire heard in the streets while in bahrain the opposition is preparing for talks with authorities after deadly clashes with government forces saw six people killed and dozens wounded plus morocco we're seeing on a raft with at least five thousand people taking to the streets of the capital rabat demanding king mohammed give up some of his powers. for more on this now i'm joined live from argentina by middle east expert adrian sal bucci thank you for joining us so we've as we've heard this situation in libya has taken a new turn with while it riots for the first time in tripoli is this the beginning of the end for colonel gadhafi. well good at good morning first of all yes these are the there is a certain pattern that we are seeing seeing in the middle east in

a 27-year-old army captain promoting what he called islamic socialism. gadhafi fancied himself the arab world's answer to mao or castro. and while his wardrobe was outlandish and his antics fodder for late night comics -- >> our research department has determined that no two people spell it alike. >> reporter: -- his ruling style was ruthless. a dictator at home, gadhafi funneled oil revenues to terrorists like black september, which carried out the munich olympic massacre in 1972. and in 1986, his agents targeted a berlin disco popular with american soldiers. >> this monstrous brutality is but the latest act in colonel gadhafi's reign of terror. >> reporter: president reagan ordered an air strike on gadhafi's compound killing the leader's 15-month-old daughter. two years later gadhafi retaliated by taking down pan am 103 over lockerbie, scotland. for years gadhafi refused to take responsibility for the massacre, but after 9/11 and the invasion of iraq, an about-face. gadhafi condemned osama bin laden, began to give up his chemical and nuclear weapons programs,

a 27-year-old army captain promoting what he called islamic socialism. gadhaficied himself the arab world's answer to mao or castro, and while his wardrobe was outlandish and antics fodder for late night comics -- >> our research department has determined that no two people spell it alike. >> reporter: his ruling style was ruthless. a dictator at home, gadhafi funneled oil revenues to terrorists like black september, which carried out the munich olympic massacre in 1972. and in 1986, his agents targeted a berlin disco popular with american soldiers. >> this monstrous brutality is but the latest act in colonel gadhafi's reign of terror. >> reporter: president reagan ordered an air strike on gadhafi's compound killing the leader's 15-month-old daughter. two years later gadhafi retaliated by taking down pan am 103 over lockerbie, scotland. for years gadhafi refused to take responsibility for the massacre, but after 9/11 and the invasion of iraq, an about-face. gadhafi condemned osama bin laden, began to give up his chemical and nuclear weapons programs, and in augu

there must be some truth to all of this because the son of moammar gadhafi sayf al-islam has gone on television and said there would be meetings tomorrow in tripoli to give some concessions. so they're backing off already. he's saying that they will be talking about some kind of political reform. but gadhafi's son also denied the number of deaths saying they were much lower than had been reported. russ. >> mitchell: alan pizzey with the latest on the fast-moving developments coming out of libya, reporting from bahrain tonight. thank you, alan. of course the obama administration has been closely watching the events in libya which is an important oil exporter and our chief white house correspondent chip reid is standing by with the latest on that good evening. >> good evening, russ. administration officials have strongly condemned the crackdown in libya and they've delivered that message directly to top libyan officials. but the truth is the u.s. has very little leverage in libya so it is not expected to make a lot of difference. >> mitchell: let's turn to the business in washington, t

. >> gadhafi lashed out at protesters, calling them islamic extremists and said they deserve the death penalty. this footage shows the northeastern city of bengazi. military units are helping protesters take control in some cities in the northeast. defections are reportedly spreading among government officials. libya's deputy u.n. envoy openly criticized gadhafi for the bloodshed and urged him to step down. libyan diplomats in india and china have left their posts. >>> the organization human rights watch said on tuesday the deaths of at least 62 people have been confirmed at two hospitals in tripoli since sunday. reports say the death toll across the country has risen above 300. >>> nhk world interviewed one activist taking part in the protest. he asked we don't use his name but he did tell us what's happening around the libyan capital. >> translator: yesterday many foreign mercenaries were seen shooting randomly with live ammunition at unarmed civilians. this morning many protesters from cities close to tripoli tried to enter the capital. however, mercenaries surrounding the city are

televised national address the son of libyan leader colonel moammar gadhafi admitted to the army's mistake in tackling the riots but also blamed islam isn't separate is for the violence eyewitnesses say snipers and heavy weapons fire for use against demonstrators who are demanding an end to the forty two year reign of colonel moammar gadhafi but reports coming in from benghazi also suggest.

. >> reporter: last night gadhafi's son tried to blame the uprising on islamic radicals and warned there could be civil war. we will fight to the last man, woman and bullet. he said. tonight here in tunis, anxious families waited as flight after flight from libya was canceled. finally one flight did land. those who got off brought with them tales of terror. "from 3:00 to 6:00 in the morning," he says "the shooting did not stop. i could not sleep." gadhafi made an ever so brief appearance on state tv tonight making it clear he's not planning to go anywhere. i'm very relaxed, he said and with characteristic cockeyness he laughed off reports he's in venezuela. i'm in tripoli, not in venezuela. today two libyan air force pilots landed in malta and asked for asylum after refusing a command to bomb protesters. at the same time, several libyan tribal leaders are siding with the opposition and so are several senior libyan diplomats abroad. it's hard to imagine libya without moammar gadhafi after almost 42 years he is the longest serving leader in africa and in the arab world. gadhafi seized cont

when m i six british intelligence agency funded an islamic extremist group in libya to try and topple gadhafi so i think stage the west also as well as being involved intelligence wise has given safe haven to a lot of his most outspoken oppositionist certainly in the u.k. so i would not be surprised if there is a sort of tacit under the table encouragement of those oppositionists within libya at the moment that the west just can't show its hand now i'm running very low on time here. for weeks european leaders have cried that multiculturalism has failed such an immigrant tsunami would not further strain the already crippled regional economy if indeed the immigrants to to move move across well if indeed that happens but i think this is a bit of saber rattling between me and libya which has history on this front and of course libya did threaten to send over a mass migration a few years ago and. retaliated by saying no no it's ok we will give you reparations for clearly in it chloe isn't but i have to say i think that if these countries do it it's a real meaningful sense democracy is achieved by

gadhafi's sons. first, i spoke to saif al islam. who is also one of his chief advisers. thank you for joining us. the president of the united states has called on your father to step down. what do you think of that? >> first of all, it's not an -- that's number one. second, do you think this is a solution? of course not. >> if a person can only keep control by using force, then legitimacy is gone. >> right. but what happened? we didn't use force. second, we still have people around us. so we are in tripoli. and we have here half the population of libya. half. more than 2 million, 2.5 million people living in the city. do you think because of 10,000 or 5,000 people, even if you have the demands against my father or whatever, it means that the whole libyan population is against mr. gadhafi? >> you said you're not using violence. there are many reports of helicopter gunships, of people being killed, and air force pilots defecting, jettisoning their planes rather than carry out ordered to bomb citizens? >> show me a single attack. show me a single bomb. show me the casualties. >> what do you make of

gadhafi was last seen sunday on state-run television. his western educated son, saif al islam went on television to say his father would never flee. this is not egypt or tunisia he said repeatedly, warning of civil war and rivers of blood if the protests continued. today, new signs of cracks from within. two air force colonels, reportedly refused orders, to attack their countrymen and flew their fighter jets to malta to request asylum. several members of gadhafi's government, including diplomats posted abroad, announced support for the people fighting the regime. foreign oil companies began evacuating workers and families. joining an exodus of thousands. >> it's been quite frightening. we've had gunfire in the night. we saw some chaos in the streets. it's getting worse, not better. >> reporter: late daf there was unusual moment on libyan state television. gadhafi appeared, being interviewed by a reporter. he said i'm here in tripoli, i'm not in venezuela. don't believe those broadcasts. it was impossible to independently confirm where gadhafi was, but he appeared to be in fron

. >> reporter: allegations that colonel gadhafi launched air strikes against his own people have inflamed international tensions. saif al islamy denies it. >> the most important issue for us is show me a single evidence that the libyan army or libyan government bombed civilians and demonstrations and using air force and bombs or artillery or helicopters or whatever. i challenge the whole international community, give me a single evidence. >> reporter: and with the gadhafis still holding onto tripoli, libyan army special brigades with tanks have thrown up a ring of steel around the capital, but just 40 miles to the west one of the towns is partly held by the opposition. christiane amanpour, abc news, tripoli, libya. >> opposition forces are closing in on the capital of tripoli. they celebrated victory yesterday in the streets of zawiyah, just 30 miles away. hundreds of anti-government forces are backed by military defectors preparing for an expected battle with pro-gadhafi troops. at least six checkpoints controlled by those loyal troops stand on the road from tripoli to zawiyah. >> secretary of state clinton has arrived in ge

could it be a rather radical islamic state could we see something else there could we see another dictator military dictator take place. again so really if colonel gadhafi is removed from power a lot of questions arise about the future of libya the united states imposed sanctions on colonel gadhafi and his family and other libyan officials now it's being conned by the international community however that condemnation is being criticized in some circles is coming far too late and it's only words. are all of our reporting there are political journalist and any while told r.t. the west is advocating the spread of democracy across the region to control the politics of the arab world. western style democracy in its current state is far from what i would consider to be something that we should want it any of these countries i think i think if there's going to be democracy it should be democracy with a real change and a change that reflects democracy that actually benefits the people today's democracy is nothing more than a mainstream control mechanism through which the vast majority of the public can do nothing or are emotionally engaged in in situations that

gadhafi, in power for 41 years, was once considered the united states' main enemy in the middle east. in a potentially dangerous concession to protesters today, libya released 110 islamic militants from prison, including the brother of one of al qaeda's top commanders. we spoke to the brother by telephone. he told us the libyan militants are not a threat to the west. protesters are calling for a day of rage in libya on thursday. in iran, there were clashes today at a funeral for a protester killed on monday. the government is taking a hard line to stop the protests, calling for the execution of opposition leaders. nbc's ali arouzi is in tehran. >> reporter: richard, opposition leaders went online today to say they were unafraid and to thank protesters for turning out on monday. later today the internet in iran was slowed almost to a halt. >> reporter: and at night, the sound of defiance has returned. cries of "god is greater" shouted from tehran's rooftops. the hallmark of a similar uprising in 2009. in yemen, a country where the united states would likely prefer reform to regime collapse, protests continued for a sixth day. a police truck drove through crowds to dispe

so are you suggesting that it's a police colonel gadhafi would say it's al qaeda or it's osama bin laden who are behind all these revolts well i think islam of islam of fast fashion fascism in general is is a theme that is being at propagated throughout the western media and something that will continue to rise in elevation within the mainstream media in the western societies as a means to continue to generate as the let's just say for a continued effort to try to swell this this enemy however you wish to define it and the current war in iraq has an afghanistan as well has left and battled so to speak out that is a little less than. let's just say attractive when it comes to being able to maintain mainstream attention so you know from ending revolutions color revolutions throughout the various islamic states is is is is quite possibly a means to create an ongoing. enemy to which they would be the means and the need for western so to speak powers to come in and annex execute force and solutions are we talk about these states there are concerns that the west maintains that radical fundamentalists will come to power in parts of the arab worl

be a rather radical islamic state could we see something else there could be see another dictator a military dictator take place and get the power again so really if colonel gadhafi is removed from power a lot of questions arise about the future of libya. and in a sly peter what has been the reaction to the end restaurant the rest of the world . well recently we've just heard that the united nation the united states i beg your pardon have imposed sanctions on colonel gadhafi and his family and other libyan officials now it's being conned bend by the international community however that condemnation is being criticized in some circles is coming far too late and it's only words a lot of people here in egypt who i was talking to say they want action stronger action from western governments and from the e.u. a lot of people singling out italy in particular as a nation it should be doing a lot more but the differences between the revolution we saw here in egypt also in . the people involved. in. mubarak here in egypt ben ali in tunisia were a different kind of leader a different kind of dictator somebody who people in the leaders in the west could pick up the phone an

be a rather radical islamic state could we see something else there could be see another dictator a military dictator take place and get the power again so really if colonel gadhafi is removed from power a lot of questions arise about the future of libya the united states have imposed sanctions on colonel gadhafi and his family and other libyan officials now it's being condemned by the international community however that condemnation is being criticized in some circles is coming far too late and it's only words. that he's put all of their reporting while a journalist even a bear or a former deputy editor of the british newspaper the independent he said if the armies of libya's neighbors could now intervene to help to topple gadhafi. continues the days turned into weeks i do think there is a case where it's possible that we might look to some of this. to see if it's possible to come in there is very little army it's mainly the police. and if he is just holed up in this season where people think it was. very swift incursion spirit from goofy egyptian army they are no seen as people who clearly a pivotal role in getting rid of mubarak. who would be treated i think

gadhafi took power. the protesters were mostly friendly. they believe media coverage helped overthrow the government in tunisia and egypt, but there were a few hard stares in this city with the reputation for islamic militants. we left the city at dusk, still heading west. in the next town, we were surprised again by demonstrators on top of an armored personnel carrier, a war trophy. protesters say this armored vehicle was being used by gadhafi forces to shoot on the people. now they have taken control of it and are driving it themselves. the rebels are now armed with heavy weapons. to show they're prepared to use them, some fired guns in the air. nearby we were taken to a house to see a half dozen men, prisoners, captured three days ago during a previously unreported major battle. the prisoners, all libyans, surrendered to save their lives. they looked despondent and understandably nervous. they told us they had been fighting alongside foreign mercenaries who were summarily executed by the rebels. rebel-controlled libya is leaderless, chaotic and harsh but also determined to advance to capture tripoli. rebels tell us that the oil fields in eastern libya are now being protected and controlled by a

islamic radical. he warned there will be a war. we will fight to the last man woman and bullet he said. mounting evidence shows gadhafi war is being fueled by higher guns. soldiers from neighbor organize african country being paid to4÷ kill. >> you can hear them faring the guns in the land cruiser. don't care who they hit. just lacking for a target. >>reporter: where the arab revolution began more than a month ago first flight libya landed late tonight. those who arrived had stories of horror. 3 to 6 in the morning the shooting did not stop. i could not sleep. as we have noted communication with libya is extremely difficult. we are hearing reports from capitol tripoli of major show down brewing between the people and the military loyal to gadhafi. violence on a scale not seen since revolution began in the arab world more than a month ago. this is abc news. >> all right. we move on new to the weather. it is going to be very cold around here. spencer is here with a chilly forecast for tonight spencer. >> you are absolutely right. we can't say it enough. quite cold. let me give you a look at live doppler because it's pul

. >> if gadhafi's regime falls there's no coherent choice in his nation. that creates a situation where you could have practiced cal islam pick jihadists step in. >> reporter: now president obama is sending secretary of state hillary clinton to coordinate a response with other international leaders. the u.s. is considering a range of punishments for libya, including a no fly zone over the country. reporting for ktvu channel 2 news. >>> the violence in libya is sending oil prices to a high level. checking online right now it is at $99.92. this, of course, after reports that half of libya's oil production has shut down. that has many drivers worried about $4 a gallon gasoline or higher. the current price in san francisco is 45-cents higher than the national average standing at $3.64. a nickel less in san jose and oakland. if the violence continues we could be paying more. >> if saudi arabia had major disruption and civil war, i think prices could easily go to over $200 a barrel and the price of gasoline could certainly go to $7 or $8 a gallon. >> the financial times of london reports saudi arabia is in talk bins creasing i

gadhafi's son. did they give any indication to you that their father might be willing to consider peacefully stepping aside? >> reporter: not at all. they haven't wavered, especially saif al islam. he is the eldest son and has a lot of political involvement in libya. they keep saying we were born here, we live here and we'll die here. even when i asked about the new sanctions that have gone in, no, they say, that will have no effect. they know, though that they're standing here in what is their last stronghold on the mediterranean coast to the east has fallen they know that this is a pretty tenuous position to be in. and i asked last night will there be a new regime? >> if you are strong, they love you. if not, say good-bye. and it's good. we get rid of them, hypocrites. >> do you think they'll get rid of you? >> no. they want to join the revolution. they are -- excuse me. the people -- they blame us. they're angry with us because of them. it is because you are employing those people, we're angry with you. >> what is the plan? what is your plan? are you staying, are you going? what's your father's plan? is he staying, is he going? >> listen, nobody is leaving this country. we l

. >> reporter: saif, gadhafi's son and heir apparent, made a rambling speech on national television, looking nervous, he blamed the uprising on islamic extremists. claiming the media was exaggerating casualty figures and offered his people a deal. constitutional reform and a new government in 48 hours or civil war. if it comes to war, he says, 5 million people will fight. 100,000 will die. it will be a bloodbath. we will fight to the last man, the last bullet. protests and violence in iran is also ramping up in one act angry defiance, protesters dragged police officers from their car, the tables turned on government forces. witnesses report scenes like this in some areas in tehran. the capital, protesters in running battle, with security forces riding motorcycles. iran and libya are different from every other place we've seen the protests take off. it is much more difficult to get information in or out of the country. still, it is a telling sign of how unhappy these people are with their governments. even a little bit of information can be incredibly damaging to the authoritarian regimes. robin. >> all right, miguel, thank you. >> ch

gadhafi household. the eldest son, mohammed is general of the post telecom company, which operates cell phones and communications across libya. second-oldest son, saif al islam, who vowed his family would fight until the last bullet, was once seen as the front-runner to replace his father. just last year brother mutassam, also libya's national security adviser, paid beyonce more than $1 million to perform at a party in st. barts. he paid mariah carey $1 million a year earlier. and brother, hannibal, was forced to leave his $7,000 a night suite in this london hotel, after he was accused of physically abusing his wife. ayesha the only daughter of lieutenant general, was part of saddam hussein's 2004 defense team after his capture. recent cables appearing on wiki wikileaks, seems to indicate it is power that gadhafi's sons most want. and constantly battle each other to get it. with libya now on the verge of civil war, it seems power is the last thing the gadhafi family will be able to keep. but expect to see saif gadhafi more and more in the coming days, george. and perhaps we'll hear from his father later today. >> okay, martha. thanks. >>> we want to get more

gadhafi took power. the protesters were mostly friendly. they believed media coverage helped overthrow the government in tunisia and egypt. but there were a few hard stares in this city. the reputation for islamic militants. we left this city at dusk still heading west. in the next town we were surprised again by demonstrators on top of a personnel carrier. a war trophy. they say this was being used by gadhafi forces to shoot on the people. now they've taken control of it and are driving it themselves. the rebels are armed with heavy weapons. to show they're prepared to use them, some fired guns in the air. nearby we were taken to a house to see a half dozen men, prisoners captured three days ago during a previously unreported major battle. they look despondent and understandably nervous. they told us they were fighting along foreign mercenaries who are summarily executed by the rebels. rebel controlled libya is leaderless, chaotic and harsh. but also determined to advance to capture tripoli. rebels tell us the oil fields here in eastern libya are now under the control of army units that defected from gadhafi. >> what are the chances -- this is ann, by the way, richard. what are the chances for