The son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Sayf al-Islam, issued a warning of a looming civil war in the country.

Sayf al-Islam spoke in a lengthy TV address to the nation as anti-government protests spread to the capital Tripoli.

Thousands of demonstrators clashed with police on Sunday. Shots have been fired and rocks thrown at Gaddafi's billboard portraits, while the authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd.  According to hospital doctors' reports, 50 have died and over 200 have been injured.

In his address, Sayf al-Islam, criticized protesters as "drunkards and thugs," but also promised significant political reforms. He admitted that the police and army had made "mistakes", pointing out the death toll was far lower than reported.

Gaddafi's son accuses the opposition of trying to transform Libya into a group of small states, something that would stop foreign investment and lead to a drastic drop in living standards.

"Libya is not Tunisia or Egypt," he declared.

Sayf Gaddafi also criticized the foreign media for exaggerating the extent of the violence in Libya.

Earlier, unconfirmed reports said Colonel Gaddafi had fled Libya, but his son stressed his father remained in Libya "leading the battle".

As day broke over Tripoli on Monday, the central area appeared quiet, although sporadic bursts of gunfire could still be heard, BBC reports.

Verifying information from Libya remains difficult since authorities have blocked internet and media communications, but credible reports suggest a police station in the capital was burnt down and a building belonging to the country's ruling party was also attacked and set ablaze.

Benghazi, the country's second city, appears to be largely under the control of protesters after four days of unrest. Unconfirmed reports say an army general there has defected to the opposition.

Fresh demonstrations have been reported in cities including Tobruk, al-Bayda and Misrata.

Libya's envoy to the Arab League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi, also announced he was "joining the revolution" in "protest against the acts of repression and violence against demonstrators".

Colonel Gaddafi is the Arab world's longest-serving leader, having ruled the oil-rich state since a coup in 1969.

The Middle East region is seeing a wave of pro-democracy protest, fuelled by the fall of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak on February 11, and long-time Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January.

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