The UN Security Council has condemned the Libyan authorities for using force against protesters, calling for those responsible to be held to account.

In a much-awaited and allegedly belated statement, the UN Security Council said it "condemned the violence and use of force against civilians, deplored the repression against peaceful demonstrators and expressed deep regret at the deaths of hundreds of civilians" in Libya.

The council issued the statement shortly after its members were briefed on the situation in Libya by B. Lynn Pascoe, undersecretary general for political affairs.

The council called on the Libyan government to protect Libyans and called upon authorities "to act with restraint, to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and to allow immediate access to international human rights monitors and humanitarian agencies."

The world body expressed concern about reports of shortages of medical supplies to treat the wounded and urged Libyan authorities to allow the safe passage into the country of medical and humanitarian supplies and workers.

It added, "They underscored the need to hold to account those responsible for attacks, including by forces under their control, on civilians."

Libya's deputy permanent representative to the UN in New York, Ibrahim Dabbashi, who on Monday called on Col Gaddafi to step down, said the council's statement was "not strong enough", but still "a good message to the regime in Libya about stopping the bloodshed".

His superior, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Shalqam, dissociated himself from the remarks, calling Libya's ruler "my friend".

Nearly 300 people have been killed so far, according to Human Rights Watch.

Earlier, Col Muammar Gaddafi urged his supporters to attack the "cockroaches" and "rats" protesting against his rule.

Anyone who took up arms against Libya would be executed, he warned.

Interior Minister Abdel Fattah Younes al-Abidi later resigned and called on the armed forces to "join and heed the people's demands".

Col Gaddafi have lost the support of almost every section of the society, but is intent on keeping power at whatever the cost in the blood of protesters. His son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has warned of rivers of blood and hundreds of thousands dead.

Analyst have criticized the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and other governments for being silent and passive for too long, saying they can and should help protect those protesters from Gaddafi's guns and encourage a democratic result.

Analysts have said that to do so, the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and other governments should quickly replace the hackneyed words of condemnation with resolute steps – finger Gaddafi as the perpetrator of atrocities, for which he will be held responsible, stop bowing to him, stop fearing that their actions will anger him and make him behave worse and present a unified front.

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