Libya's deadly crackdown denounced at UN
Updated
Escalating: a Libyan protester waves his old national flag during a demonstration in the dissident-held city of Tobruk (AFP: Patrick Baz)
The United Nations says there are indications that thousands of demonstrators have been killed in the violent crackdown by Libyan forces.
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, says the crackdown by Moamar Gaddafi's forces is escalating alarmingly, and that some sources indicate thousands may have been killed or injured.
Ms Pillay has described the Libyan leader's actions as a brazen and continuing breach of international law. At its root, she says, is a callous disregard for the rights and freedom of his own people.
She was addressing an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council, convened in Geneva to examine the grave situation in the North African country.
Western powers including the United States and France are pushing to have Libya's membership of the 47-member state forum put under challenge at the special session.
But Arab and African states are expected to resist the call at the one-day session, fearing it will set a precedent, according to diplomats.
The violence is continuing in towns close to the capital Tripoli, where fierce fighting has killed at least 17 people.
Opposition supporters are bracing for mass protests in the capital where Mr Gaddafi's forces are still in control.
They are calling for a new, concerted push to oust him from power.
Meanwhile, euphoria in Libya's second city Benghazi has given way to growing concern that it remains vulnerable to a counter-attack by Gaddafi forces.
Despite bold talk of organising a mass march on Tripoli to "liberate" the capital, opponents of Mr Gaddafi - including army units that have defected to join the uprising - look ill-equipped to defend the port city.
At the nearby barracks of the Al-Saiqa (Thunderbolt) special forces unit, an officer who gave his name as Colonel Said said: "For now, we are readying ourselves here. We are expecting an attack on Benghazi at any moment."
- ABC/wires
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