ebruary 21
7:56pm: Al Jazeera Arabic is speaking to a political activist in Tripoli, who tells us there are airstrikes "all over Tripoli".
There is death, fear - and women are crying everywhere. The strikes are concentrated against areas that sent large number of protestors to the streets and there are cars full of foreign fighters firing on people.
He says at least 250 people were killed in the past 24 hours alone and is calling for international help. He tells us Tripoli is "under siege by foreign fighters" - that water and electricity have been cut and there is a shortage of food and medical supplies. "It is a genocide," he says.
7:45pm: The defected pilots reportedly tell Maltese officials they were based in Tripoli and ordered to attack protesters on the ground in Benghazi. After seeing their fellow pilots begin the airstrikes, they diverted course toward Malta. If substantiated, this would appear to confirm the use of airstrikes against civilian protesters in cities around the country.
7:39pm: Karl Stagno-Novarra, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Malta, reports the pilots of the jet fighters that landed there are "senior colonels", who were ordered to bomb protesters. They refused and have defected to Malta, he said.
7:19pm: The EU Council of Foreign Ministers issues the following statement:
The Council condemns the ongoing repression against demonstrators in Libya and deplores the violence and death of civilians. The Council calls for an immediate end to the use of force against protesters and for all parties to show restraint. Freedom of expression and the right to assemble peacefully are human rights and fundamental freedoms of every human being which must be respected and protected.
7:16pm: The US Department of State warns citizens of the potential for "ongoing unrest" in Libya. They say:
Violent clashes between protesters and security forces continue throughout Libya, including in Tripoli. Spontaneous demonstrations, violence, and looting are possible throughout the next several days.
7:12pm: A Libyan contact in Zuwarah tells us, via Skype:
I ask Libyans abroad to move and put pressure on the regime. I want each Libyan abroad to talk to each other and to take action. All mobiles are cut and all communications are shut down and we fear that at the time of Maghreb [sunset] that the situation will be getting worse - as we don't have weapons. We must be united, have faith, and we pray that tonight will pass safely.
7:09pm: Dutch ISP provider XS4ALL has set up an internet dial-up service for Libya.
Use your modem to dial +31205350535
username: xs4all
password: xs4all
7:05pm: The Libyan ambassador to Indonesia has also resigned, Al Jazeera Arabic reports.
6:52pm: The Libyan ambassador to the United Kingdom has resigned, alongside other embassy staff. They have joined demonstrators, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.
6:46pm: Al Jazeera, alonside specialist technical investigators, have pinpointed the source of its signal blockage to a Libyan intelligence agency building, south of the capital Tripoli. The network's website has also been blocked in the country, with Libyan users getting the message: "File does not exist" when they try to access it.
A spokesman for Al Jazeera said:
The media should be able to operate freely, so all interference with our work and our broadcast signal should cease forthwith.
6:42pm: Senior diplomatic sources tell Al Jazeera - on condition of confidentiality - that phones are being monitored and text messages jammed. Nearly all embassies are evacuating non-essential staff, and all have been ordered by Libya's foreign ministry to close immediately - and to remain closed until Sunday.
6:38pm: Venezuelan officials deny Gaddafi is on his way there.
6:34pm: Reuters reports British foreign secretary William Hague says Gaddafi "may be on his way to Venezuela". On the sidelines of the EU crisis talks, he reportedly said:
You asked me earlier about whether Colonel Gaddafi is in Venezuela - I have no information that says he is, but I have seen some information that suggests he is on his way there at the moment.
6:30pm: Planes of the Libyan Air Force reportedly opening fire on protesters in central Tripoli. No way to confirm this currently - but we are getting many reports of chaos on the streets of the capital.
6:26pm: Further reports of live ammunition being used on protesters in Tripoli, with lots of tweets saying security forces are again driving cars around the city, shooting at everyone and everything.
Ahmed Elgazir, a human rights researcher, told Al Jazeera that Libya News Centre, an organisation based in Geneva, had received a call for help from a woman "witnessing the massacre" in progress, who called on a satellite phone after landlines were cut.
6:14pm: Our TV news channel shows scenes of jubilant protesters in Benghazi. Don't forget, you can tune in by clicking here.
And, if you're in the United States, you can Demand Al Jazeera on your cable provider
5:54pm: The London School of Economics - where Saif al-Islam Gaddafi attended university - says it is reviewing its links with Libya. The university says it has previously "delivered executive education programmes to Libyan officials, principally from the Economic Development Board". It has also received funding for scholarships in return for "advice given to the Libyan Investment Authority in London".
It is not expecting any further funds, the school says, but "intends to continue its work on democratisation in North Africa funded from other sources unrelated to the Libyan authorities".
5:50pm: Geneva-based Libyan News Network reports phones cut in Tripoli, amid "massacre" in Green Square. More details being sought.
5:40pm: Two civilian helicopters, followed by two Libyan fighter jets, have landed in Malta. Only one of at least seven passengers are reported to be carrying passports. All passengers are currently being held by immigration officials. Al Jazeera's Karl Stagno-Novarra, reporting from Malta, says the Mediterranean island is preparing to be used as a base for evacuation of European citizens from Libya, one hour's flight away.
5:37pm: At EU crisis talks in Brussels, Alexander Stubb, Finland's foreign minister, tells Al Jazeera:
It is up to the leadership of Libya to listen to its people. And to be quite honest, listening people does not mean you should be using a machine gun.
5:25pm: Demonstrations in solidarity with anti-Gaddafi protesters have broken out at Libyan embassies and consulates around the world. Here are some photos sent to us from Malta:
5:10pm: The Egyptian Association for Human Rights is calling on the military to evacuate Egyptians from Libya, saying Seif Gaddafi's speech last night - during which he blamed "foreign forces" (among other elements) - threatened Egyptians in Libya.
5:07pm: Ahmad Jibreel, Libyan diplomat, tells Al Jazeera:
The minister of security has, by the way, joined too … He is currently in Benghazi - actually he is with the people, he is one of the people starting to fight the mercenaries and Gaddafi’s guards
4:58pm: A Libyan consul secretary, a translator and a receptionist have quit their jobs at the embassy in Stockholm. In a letter, they write:
We condemn the genocide of civilians taking place in Libya following their legitimate demands of life in dignity and without the despot Gadaffi's continued mismanagement and corruption.
We find the situation unbearable: we don't want to be passive when we see that people rise up against the tyrant despite the obvious risk that their blood is spilled. Therefore we resign in protest and urge others to make their voices heard.
Translator Sayed Jalabi adds:
It is because of what is happening in Libya. We believe that we can not continue working at an embassy, which stands for a regime that oppresses and mass-murdering people.
4:51pm: Gaddafi's security forces reportedly surround the home of Jumaa Al Ousta - general secretary of Libya's trade and industry chamber. They are threatenening to burn it down, after he was critical of Gaddafi in an interview with Al Jazeera.
4:45pm: A White House official tells reporters President Obama's administration is "seeking clarification" from Libyan counterparts "as we continue to raise with them the need to avoid violence against peaceful protesters and to respect human rights". Says they are analysing last night's speech by Saif Gaddafi "to see what possibilities it contains for meaningful reform".
4:40pm: Four helicopters reported to be circling Green/Martyrs' Square, where protesters have gathered in central Tripoli.
4:35pm: The World Economic Forum has suspended Seif Gaddafi from its Forum of Young Global Leaders group.
4:26pm: Medical sources report 18 South Korean workers were injured when gunmen attacked their company facility. Al Jazeera is seeking further information on the location of the shooting and industry - and current health - of the workers involved.
4:24pm: The death toll from clashes in Tripoli - today - has reached 61, report our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic.
4:21pm: Eyewitnesses report fire breaking out at a police station in Tripoli, while security forces loot banks and government organisations across the city
4:17pm: Reuters reports the Libyan justice minister has resigned in support of the protests.
2:17pm: New video posted by YouTube user libya2011free and relayed via the Arab Revolution blog shows how the uprising in Libya has grown in recent days; this one apparently shows large protesters of Misrata, just 160 km to the east of Tripoli, celebrating:
