‘Prepare to defend Libya’ Gadhafi tells supporters after militiamen fire on protesters

Chaos filled the streets in the Libyan capital of Tripoli Friday when militiamen loyal to leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi fired on protesters in the capital’s Green Square in an attempt to break up a large anti-government demonstration.

Friday’s violence was the latest of the brutal crackdowns that have killed hundreds. The United Nation’s top human rights official, Navi Pillay, said the attacks on demonstrators since the uprising began last week should spur the international community to act swiftly.

Gunmen posted on rooftops around the square shot down on demonstrators and witnesses said armed Gadhafi supporters in vehicles were speeding through the streets.

Many residents in the capital remain holed up in their homes fearing the violence in the streets. Tanks lined several routes Friday and pro-Gadhafi militiamen — a mix of Libyans and foreigners — set up checkpoints on the road leading to the Tripoli airport. Friday’s demonstration started after morning prayers.

Gadhafi appeared in Green Square Friday evening and told the more than 1,000 supporters gathered there to “prepare to defend Libya, to defend the oil, dignity and independence.”

The embattled leader told the crowd he’s preparing to “open the arms depot” to allow all Libyans to be armed so the country “becomes red with fire.”

“I am in the middle of the people in the Green Square. … This is the people that loves Moammar Gadhafi. If the people of Libya and the Arabs and Africans don’t love Moammar Gadhafi then Moammar Gadhafi does not deserve to live,” he told his supporters.

Meanwhile, Gadhafi’s son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi told CNN that plan A, B, and C for his family is to “live and die” in Libya. Watch his interview in the video below.

Word of the protest, dubbed the Friday of liberation, circulated via text messages and social media. Since the uprising began Feb. 15 the death toll has been pegged at between 300 and 1,000. At least 17 people were killed in battles between anti-and pro-Gadhafi factions on Thursday. Unconfirmed reports suggested people were also killed in clashes Friday.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators also turned out for a rally Friday in Benghazi in support of the protesters in Tripoli.

Rebels hoping to end Gadhafi’s more than 40-year grip on power have seized various cities, mostly in the eastern part of the nation and many high-ranking politicians and diplomats have abandoned the Libyan leader. Anti-government forces have also taken hold of the key oil port of Breqa, about 700 kilometres east of the capital.

The Libyan delegation to the UN announced Friday it was defecting to the opposition.

On Thursday Gadhafi attempted to blame Osama bin Laden for the uprising, claiming al-Qaida leaders are exploiting teenagers by giving them “hallucinogenic pills in their coffee with milk, like Nescafe.”

The United States said Friday it plans to impose sanctions on the North African nation and the European Union is considering travel restrictions and freezing assets. Canada has so far remained mum on what its response will be.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy didn’t mince words Friday. He said Gadhafi “must go”.

Gadhafi’s response to protests has been the harshest of any Arab leader since anti-government uprisings began sweeping across Middle East, starting in Tunisia in January.

On Thursday, some 200 Canadians managed to flee the country on American and British flights. Reports suggest a plane chartered by the federal government left the Libyan capital Friday morning but there were no Canadians waiting for it at the airport. A Canadian military jet is reportedly on standby in Rome.

Foreign Affairs said 351 Canadians are registered with the embassy in Tripoli.

The unrest in Libya has reduced oil production there sending crude prices up past $100 a barrel earlier this week. Prices dropped slightly Friday to just over $98 a barrel.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press.