Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi armed civilians in the nation's capital in a last-ditch effort to hang on to power.
Anti-regime protesters have seized control of approximately half of the country's 1,600 kilometer-long coast, much of which is heavily populated. But the United Nations estimated Saturday that at least 1,000 people have died since protesters began their attempt to oust Qaddafi from power a week ago.
The dictator, determined to hold on to power, urged his supporters on Friday to rise up, promising them weapons with which to defend his rule. “At the appropriate time we will open the arms depot so all Libyans and tribes will be armed – so that Libya glows red with fire,” he said.
Witnesses who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity described trucks and other vehicles filled with armed civilians patrolling the streets of Tripoli.
Several cities outside the capital have already fallen to the opposition forces, including Zawiya and Misrata, the country's third-largest city. A fierce firefight between rebels and government forces at an air force base in Misrata ended with the capture of Brig.-Gen. Abu Bakr Ali by protesters. Pro-regime troops in tanks, however, managed to wrest back partial control of the base.
UN Mulls Sanctions
The United Nations Security Council, meanwhile, entered an urgent session Saturday to consider imposing a set of sanctions against the Qaddafi regime.
Libyan Ambassador to the U.N. Mohamed Shalgam appealed to his colleagues on Friday, saying he hoped that “within hours, not days, they can do something tangible” to stop the bloodshed. Libyan air force jets had indiscriminately bombed their own civilian population centers last week, after being ordered to do so by Qaddafi.
Among the measures being weighed are an arms embargo as well as a travel ban and international freeze on the dictator's assets and those of his family. A freeze is being considered on the assets belonging to the senior officials in Qaddafi's regime as well.
In addition, the Council is discussing a move to charge Qaddafi with crimes against humanity, and to refer the Libyan dictator to the International Criminal Court at The Hague. It is expected that a vote will be taken sometime Saturday, albeit perhaps late.
French Ambassador to the U.N. Gerard Araud described the pace of the resolution proceedings to CNN as “an earthquake.”
U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order Friday freezing Qaddafi's assets and those of four of his children. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also warned that his nation would soon enact sanctions against Qaddafi's regime.