Western news organizations say there are reports of fresh anti-government protests Friday in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi.
The reports come a day after U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said Libyan security forces had killed 24 people during crackdowns on protests on Wednesday and Thursday.
The French News Agency says demonstrators in Benghazi set the headquarters of a local radio station on fire Friday. There are also reports of protests elsewhere in the country.
On Thursday, clashes broke out across the country after opponents of leader Moammar Gadhafi called for nationwide protests, known as a “Day of Rage,” inspired by uprisings in other Arab states.
Meanwhile, state media showed hundreds of pro-government supporters who gathered Thursday in the capital, Tripoli, waving green flags and shouting in support of Mr. Gadhafi.
Mr. Gadhafi has sought to defuse the protests, doubling the salaries of state employees and releasing 110 accused Islamic militants. But some of the rallies drew on much older grievances. They were first set off Tuesday night when police arrested a human rights lawyer representing the families of 1,000 detainees massacred in 1996 at the notorious Abu Salim prison in Tripoli.
Mr. Gadhafi took power in a bloodless coup in 1969 and has built his rule on a cult of personality and a network of family and tribal alliances.
The reports come a day after U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said Libyan security forces had killed 24 people during crackdowns on protests on Wednesday and Thursday.
The French News Agency says demonstrators in Benghazi set the headquarters of a local radio station on fire Friday. There are also reports of protests elsewhere in the country.
On Thursday, clashes broke out across the country after opponents of leader Moammar Gadhafi called for nationwide protests, known as a “Day of Rage,” inspired by uprisings in other Arab states.
Meanwhile, state media showed hundreds of pro-government supporters who gathered Thursday in the capital, Tripoli, waving green flags and shouting in support of Mr. Gadhafi.
Mr. Gadhafi has sought to defuse the protests, doubling the salaries of state employees and releasing 110 accused Islamic militants. But some of the rallies drew on much older grievances. They were first set off Tuesday night when police arrested a human rights lawyer representing the families of 1,000 detainees massacred in 1996 at the notorious Abu Salim prison in Tripoli.
Mr. Gadhafi took power in a bloodless coup in 1969 and has built his rule on a cult of personality and a network of family and tribal alliances.