Dubai: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is on his way to Venezuela, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday based on information obtained by the British government.
This comes in the wake of reports that demonstrators have taken control of several cities, including Benghazi and Sirte.
The Venezuelan information ministry, however, denied reports that Gaddafi is heading to the country.
UN chief talks to Gaddafi
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had an extensive discussion on Monday with the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi, on the deteriorating situation in that country.
The Secretary-General expressed deep concern at the escalating scale of violence and emphasised that it must stop immediately. He reiterated his call for respect for basic freedoms and human rights, including peaceful assembly and information.
Reacting to the leader's interpretation of the events and the response of the authorities, the Secretary-General underlined the need to ensure the protection of the civilian population under any circumstances. He urged all parties to exercise restraint and called upon the authorities to engage in broad-based dialogue to address legitimate concerns of the population.
Meanwhile, the Libyan diplomatic mission to the UN, in a statement, asked Gaddafi to step down.
The International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) claimed that up to 400 people have been killed in the unrest as Libya's Qurnya newspaper reported that the justice minister quit in protest to the use of "excessive violence".
Reports said several Libyan ambassadors, including envoys to India and China, have resigned in protest against the crackdown.
The bloodshed moved to the Libyan capital Tripoli on Monday where 60 protesters were killed in the Green Square. Witnesses reported that aircraft were firing on protesters.
The IFHR said that cities such as Tobruk, Misrata, Khoms, Tarhounah, Zeiten, Al Zawiya and Zouara, closer to Tripoli, were also under protesters' control, but some eyewitnesses in Sirte denied that Gaddafi's hometown had been seized.
The international community has also broken its silence with the US and the European Union issuing statements condemning the latest bloodshed.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy expressed concern about the influx of illegal migrants from North Africa after Libya's threat last week to stop cooperation in stemming the flow.
The condemnation comes after the leader of the Al Zuwayya tribe threatened to cut oil exports to western countries within 24 hours unless authorities stop the "oppression of protesters".
Meanwhile, speaking on state TV, Gaddafi's son Saif Al Islam vowed that his father would fight "until the last bullet".
State television reported on Monday that Libyan security forces have launched an operation against "dens of terrorists" in a sweep that has killed a number of people, .
The report did not give further details on where the operation was being carried out nor on the identity of those being targeted.
Military aircraft fired live ammunition at crowds of anti-government protesters in Tripoli, Al Jazeera television said on Monday. The TV network quoted witnesses for its information.
No independent verification of the report was immediately available.
The State TV report said Libyan security forces "stormed the dens of terrorists and saboteurs who are motivated by hatred" .
It also urged citizens to cooperate with the authorities to restore security in the country which has been rocked since Thursday by protests against the regime.
State television separately showed what it said was "live footage" of pro-Gaddafi protests taking place at the landmark Green Square in central Tripoli.
Resident: Libya warplanes bombing Tripoli
Libyan warplanes were bombing indiscriminately across Tripoli on Monday, a resident of the Libyan capital toldAl Jazeera television in a live broadcast.
"What we are witnessing today is unimaginable. Warplanes and helicopters are indiscriminately bombing one area after another. There are many, many dead," Adel Mohamed Saleh said.
Saleh, who called himself a political activist, said the bombings had initially targeted a funeral procession.
"Our people are dying. It is the policy of scorched earth." he said. "Every 20 minutes they are bombing."
Asked if the attacks were still happening he said: "It is continuing, it is continuing. Anyone who moves, even if they are in their car they will hit you."
There was no independent verification of the report but Fathi Al Warfali, the Libyan activist who heads the Swiss-based Libyan Committee for Truth and Justice, who was taking part in a protest outside UN European headquarters in Geneva said he had heard the same reports.
"Military planes are attacking civilians, protesters in Tripoli now. The civilians are frightened. Where is the United Nations, where is Amnesty International?" Al Warfali told Reuters.
- With inputs from agencies
