Audio By Carbonatix
The UN is withdrawing all its international staff from the Libyan capital Tripoli following a mob attack on its offices.
UN buildings and some foreign missions were targeted by angry crowds following a Nato air strike that reportedly killed a son of Col Gaddafi.
A UN official told the BBC its staff would withdraw from Libya and the decision would be reviewed next week.
After its Tripoli embassy was sacked, the UK expelled the Libyan ambassador.
A BBC team in Tripoli said the British embassy was completely burnt out with fires still smouldering and paperwork and other debris scattered outside.
In other developments, witnesses reported heavy shelling by pro-Gaddafi forces on the port of Misrata on Sunday. The city has been besieged for two months.
Libyan state TV said the port was shelled to stop Nato delivering weapons to insurgents but rebels said an aid ship had been trying to unload.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Libyan ambassador Omar Jelban had been given 24 hours to leave the country.
By not protecting diplomatic missions, the Gaddafi regime had "once again breached its international responsibilities and obligations", said Mr Hague.
He added: "The attacks against diplomatic missions will not weaken our resolve to protect the civilian population in Libya."
The Italian foreign ministry condemned the "acts of vandalism" on its embassy, describing them as "grave and vile". Italy - which closed its embassy in March and is represented by Turkey - recently joined the Nato mission in Libya.
There were also protests outside the US mission in Tripoli.
A UN official said the Libyan government had apologised for the attack on its offices, blaming an angry mob for the damage.
Most Western governments evacuated staff from Tripoli when an international coalition began air strikes on Libya several weeks ago.
Late on Saturday, the Libyan government said Saif al-Arab Gaddafi and three of Col Gaddafi's grandchildren had died in a Nato attack on a villa in Tripoli.
Foreign reporters were shown widespread damage to the building in Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound.
Nato has insisted its raid targeted a "command-and-control" building, and that all Nato targets were "military in nature".
Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Col Gaddafi and his wife had been in the building at the time of the attack but they were both unharmed.
He said the air strike was against international law and "a direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country".
Nato is operating in Libya under a strict UN mandate to protect civilians.
Later on Sunday, Libyan state TV said funerals for Saif al-Arab Gaddafi and the other victims would be held on Monday after noon prayers.
The BBC's Christian Fraser witnessed the damage and said that if Col Gaddafi had been there, it is hard to imagine he could have walked away unscathed.
Russia expressed "serious doubts" that the West was not targeting Col Gaddafi and his family.
"The claims of the coalition members that strikes over Libya do not have the physical destruction of Muammar Gaddafi and members of his family as their goal cause serious doubts," a statement from the foreign ministry said.
In the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi, shots were fired in celebration following reports that Saif al-Arab Gaddafi had been killed.
However, the claims were also treated with scepticism.
Mahmoud Shammam, spokesman for the anti-Gaddafi Transitional National Council (TNC) based in Benghazi, told al-Jazeera he believed it was "a ploy to fish for people's sympathy".
Khaled al-Urfi, a resident of the rebel-held western city of Misrata, told AP news agency: "We don't know if it is true or not because Gaddafi is a liar. I will only believe it if you put the body in front of me."
On Saturday, Nato officials said the alliance would not consider talks until government forces stopped attacks on civilians.
The vice-chairman of the rebel Transitional National Council also rejected the offer of negotiations.
Source; BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
“Ghana has moved from ICU to wellness center” — Finance Minister declares economic recovery
12 minutes -
Ato Forson highlights “turning point” in economic recovery strategy
16 minutes -
NACSA Seminar: Gender Minister demands an increased role for women to end gun violence
21 minutes -
Full text: Statement on Ghana’s new engagement with IMF
28 minutes -
US trade mission to visit Ghana
1 hour -
Tempane: Three suspects arrested over deadly Worinyanga attacksÂ
1 hour -
EU fines Temu €200m for allowing sale of illegal products
1 hour -
Portugal breaks hottest May day record as Europe swelters in heatwave
1 hour -
KetaFC celebrates “vindication” after Volta RFA Middle League controversy
1 hour -
Professor Joseph Ofori-Dankwa receives 2026 Lifetime Leadership Impact Award
1 hour -
United Pension Trustees advocates menstrual hygiene awareness and support for girls in Juaben
1 hour -
The age when the body starts ageing faster
1 hour -
Controversial Volta RFA verdict triggers calls for GFA intervention
1 hour -
AIMS Ghana, University of Waterloo lead push for stronger mathematics education at HTTMC 2026
1 hour -
NADMO dismisses claims residents were not warned before Weija Dam spillage
3 hours