Live blog: Uncertainty reigns in a divided Libya

Foreign nationals are scrambling to leave Libya as fears of a civil war grow amid reports that protesters have seized control of eastern cities while Muammar Gaddafi retains control of Tripoli. Follow events on France 24's live blog.

By FRANCE 24 (text)

Live blog FRANCE 24 - 24-02-2011

(02/24/2011)

21:20

FRANCE 24: Reuters reports that the US government has no reason to believe that Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is dead after oil traders cited a rumor that Gaddafi had been shot as pushing down oil prices, qutoting an unnamed US official. Thursday February 24, 2011 21:20 FRANCE 24

20:59

FRANCE 24: The Guardian's Martin Chulov tweets: "Tripoli will be Ghaddafi's last stand. Cornered and enraged, it is likely to be savage." Thursday February 24, 2011 20:59 FRANCE 24

20:27

FRANCE 24: The United States is prepared to take steps beyond seeking to suspend Libya from the United Nations Human Rights council to try to stop violence in the North African country, the State Department has said without giving details. Thursday February 24, 2011 20:27 FRANCE 24

20:16

FRANCE 24: Algeria has officially lifted its 19-year-old state of emergency. Thursday February 24, 2011 20:16 FRANCE 24

19:58

FRANCE 24: In this video posted to YouTube, insurgents are said to be taking control of the Misrata ariport. According to Reuters, several people were killed in combats around the airport today. The city is now in the hands of insurgents, the agency reports. 19:58

19:16

FRANCE 24: AFP reports that Switzerland has ordered a freeze on any Gaddafi assets, quoting a Swiss government official. Thursday February 24, 2011 19:16 FRANCE 24

18:33

Map showing who has control of what areas of Libya, at 6.30pm Paris time (GMT+1) Thursday February 24, 2011 18:33

17:49

FRANCE 24: In the video below FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert analyses Gaddafi's speech broadcast on Libyan TV earlier today: "This is a man who has totally lost touch with what's going on in his own country. I don't think he is being cynical. He is truly deluded."

17:48

17:26

FRANCE 24: Zimbabwean police have charged 46 people with treason for watching videos of the popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, the Guardian reports. Thursday February 24, 2011 17:26 FRANCE 24

17:17

FRANCE 24: Senior French human rights official France's top human rights official Francois Zimeray has told Reuters that up to 2,000 people may have been killed in the unrest in Libya, and said that there was "clear" evidence to suggest Gaddafi had committed crimes against humanity. Thursday February 24, 2011 17:17 FRANCE 24

16:48

FRANCE 24: AFP reports that 10 people have been killed and dozens hurt in assault on Az-Zawiyah in Libya, quoting a Libyan newspaper. At the same time, regular Libyan blogger @AliTweel tweets: "Anti-gaddafi WON the battle in zawia! They are controlling the city!!" Thursday February 24, 2011 16:48 FRANCE 24

16:09

FRANCE 24: Former Libyan justice minister tells Al Jazeera he believes Gaddafi still has chemical weapons and would use them as a last resort. Thursday February 24, 2011 16:09 FRANCE 24

15:51

FRANCE 24: Vanity Fair looks at Gaddafi's flamboyant fashion sense. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:51 FRANCE 24

15:46

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: Speech by telephone came to an abrupt end and was followed by a dial tone. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:46 FRANCE 24

15:30

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: "I do not have the authority to impose rules on the people. I am a symbolic leader." Thursday February 24, 2011 15:30 FRANCE 24

15:28

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: Gaddafi compares his authority to that of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:28 FRANCE 24

15:28

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: "I am only trying to show patriotism and to give parental advice." Thursday February 24, 2011 15:28 FRANCE 24

15:26

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: Gaddafi asks protesters - "why do you want to hand this country over to Bin Laden?" Thursday February 24, 2011 15:26 FRANCE 24

15:23

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: Gaddafi says Libyan teenagers are being drugged by Bin Laden. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:23 FRANCE 24

15:19

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: Gaddafi says insurgents Zawiya "want Osama Bin Laden" to come in and rule. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:19 FRANCE 24

15:18

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: Watch live on France 24 by following this link. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:18 FRANCE 24

15:15

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi live: Gaddafi continues to insist that the protesting youth are being drugged. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:15 FRANCE 24

15:12

FRANCE 24: Gaddafi is speaking on Libyan TV, via telephone. Thursday February 24, 2011 15:12 FRANCE 24

15:05

FRANCE 24: In the video below, an unnamed resident of Janzour, west of the capital Tripoli, tells FRANCE 24 that no one in the country has faith in state TV.

15:04

14:59

martinchulov: Surreal being in a sacked city. People say they can breathe for the first time in their lives. Exiled Libyans pouring in. #libya #feb17 (Martin Chulov is a Guardian correspondent, currently in Benghazi, eastern Libya). [via Twitter] Thursday February 24, 2011 14:59 martinchulov

14:56

FRANCE 24: In the video below, FRANCE 24's Frederic Simon talks about the EU's response to the crisis in Libya. It has not been uniform, with some calling for sanctions while Mediterranean countries are more worried about an explosion in refugee numbers.

14:55

14:49

FRANCE 24: In the video below, FRANCE 24's Washington correspondent analyses US President Barack Obama's response to the ongoing crisis in Libya. Obama has been criticised for waiting so long to respond.

14:48

14:32

FRANCE 24: Witnesses at the Tunisian border with Libya tell Reuters that gun battles are taking place between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his opponents in the town of Zawiyah, 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli. Thursday February 24, 2011 14:32 FRANCE 24

14:18

FRANCE 24: CNN's Ben Wedeman tweets: "Libyan Air Force pilot tells me that a colleague in base near #Tripoli says pilots executed for refusing regime orders." Thursday February 24, 2011 14:18 FRANCE 24

13:44

FRANCE 24: The Libyan government will consider foreign journalists entering the country without proper authorisation to be “al Qaeda collaborators”, the US State Department said on Thursday. Some journalists from CNN, BBC Arabic and Al Arabiya will be allowed into the country. Thursday February 24, 2011 13:44 FRANCE 24

13:32

FRANCE 24: Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi will deliver a public address on Thursday to the city of Zawiyah, west of Tripoli, Libya’s state TV reports. Thursday February 24, 2011 13:32 FRANCE 24

13:14

[Comment From Moses Moses : ] Let him save his country by leaving early enough Thursday February 24, 2011 13:14 Moses

13:14

[Comment From Moses Moses : ] My suggestion is that let him go,African leaders should learn/borrow from Nelson Mandela who even after 27 years in Robben Island never clung on power in the under the pretext of revolutionaries and saving rescues. Thursday February 24, 2011 13:14 Moses

13:13

[Comment From ziedm ziedm : ] International Criminal Court says that President of Chad tried to send troops into Libya to support Gaddafi. Can you confirm that? Thursday February 24, 2011 13:13 ziedm

13:13

[Comment From ziedm ziedm : ] International Criminal Court says that President of Chad tried to send troops into Libya to support Gaddafi. Thursday February 24, 2011 13:13 ziedm

13:13

[Comment From ziedm ziedm : ] Any idea about 2 submarines and a frigate the passed close to tunisian shores? are they heading to Libya? I'll send the video links if needed Thursday February 24, 2011 13:13 ziedm

12:09

FRANCE 24: Italian oil giant ENI, the biggest foreign energy firm operating in Libya, has been forced to slash oil production in the country by more than 50 percent due to ongoing unrest, the company said on Thursday. Thursday February 24, 2011 12:09 FRANCE 24

11:13

FRANCE 24: Anti-Gaddafi protesters have reportedly taken control of the eastern cities of Benghazi, Sirte and Tobruk, as well as Khoms, Misrata, Tarhounah, al Zawiya, Zenten and Zouara, 120 kms west of Tripoli. Thursday February 24, 2011 11:13 FRANCE 24

10:58

BreakingNews___: CNN: RT @bencnn: As first western TV crew to make it to Benghazi we were greeted like liberators, pelted with candy,... http://ow.ly/1btwa8 [via Twitter] Thursday February 24, 2011 10:58 BreakingNews___

10:42

FRANCE 24: Italy’s Interior Minister Roberto Maroni urged his EU counterparts on Thursday to act to avert "a catastrophic humanitarian crisis" looming in Libya. Thursday February 24, 2011 10:42 FRANCE 24

10:30

FRANCE 24: French Defence Minister Alain Juppe said on Thursday that France “has taken an extremely clear position” on events in Libya, adding that he hopes Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi will soon “live his last moments as head of state”. Thursday February 24, 2011 10:30 FRANCE 24

10:29

FRANCE 24: Asian nations with large numbers of foreign workers in Libya are facing logistical challenges as they seek to evacuate their citizens before the unrest spreads further. China is launching an air, land and sea operations to evacuate the 30,000 citizens it has in Libya while Thailand, with more than 23,000 workers in the country, is also looking to relocate its nationals. India has begun transporting its 18,000 nationals to Egypt while some 60,000 Bangladeshis and 30,000 Filipinos are also looking to evacuate. Thursday February 24, 2011 10:29 FRANCE 24

10:03

FRANCE 24: Foreign nationals are scrambling to leave Libya as fears of a civil war grow amid reports that protesters have seized control of eastern cities while Muammar Gaddafi retains control of the capital, Tripoli, in the west. Thursday February 24, 2011 10:03 FRANCE 24

Thursday February 24, 2011