DUSHANBE, February 25, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi continued armed assault on protesters on Thursday in order to keep control of the country and suppress the opposition, according to international media outlets.

Itar Tass reports that troops and African mercenaries were sent to the town of Az Zawiyah, some 50 kilometers west of Tripoli.

The Al Jazeera TV channel says violence at the town of Az Zawiyah was the worst yesterday.  Witnesses told Al Jazeera the death toll in the violence in Az Zawiyah estimated to be close to 100.

In Misrata, 200 kilometers east of Tripoli, the elite government battalion Hamsa attempted to seize control over the local airport, but was reportedly repelled.

The situation was tense in the capital of Tripoli, although Libyan security forces promised an amnesty to all armed opponents of the Gaddafi regime who voluntarily surrender arms.

In the meantime, residents of eastern Libyan provinces threatened to march to the capital to topple Gaddafi who had been running the country for over 40 years, according to Itar Tass.

It became know on Thursday that a close relative of Gaddafi and senior law enforcer Ahmad Gaddafa al-Dama fled after denouncing violence against the people.  Former Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil who participated in a meeting of tribal chiefs of the eastern part of the country warned Gaddafi possesses biological and chemical weapons which he might use.  According to Itar Tass, he called on the international community to prevent the threat which is quite possible if Gaddafi “is nailed down.”

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi meanwhile blamed the uprising on al-Qaeda.  Muammar Gaddafi has said that al-Qaeda is responsible for the uprising against him, amid attacks by pro-Gaddafi forces against anti-government protesters in several cities.

Al Jazeera reports that in a speech made via telephone and aired on state television on Thursday, Gaddafi claimed that the protesters were young people who had been manipulated by Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda''s leader, and were acting under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.  In his speech, Gaddafi argued that he was a purely "symbolic" leader with no real political power, and that citizens had "no reason to complain whatsoever".  He hinted that he would be prepared to raise salaries, but warned that protesters would be tried in the country''s courts.

In the meantime, US President Barack Obama has called the leaders of the UK, France and Italy as international efforts to respond to the crisis in Libya gather pace, the BBC reports.  Mr. Obama outlined a range of possible measures, including plans for humanitarian assistance.

The UN Security Council is expected to meet later on Friday in New York to consider further action against Col Gaddafi''s government.

The Swiss government has ordered an immediate freeze on assets belonging to Colonel Gaddafi and his associates.

But it remains to be seen what steps Russia and China, who are traditionally reluctant to impose sanctions, will support, the BBC said.

The total number of deaths has been impossible to determine.  Human Rights Watch says it has confirmed nearly 300 deaths, but the International Federation for Human Rights says at least 700 people have been killed.  A French doctor in Benghazi, Gerrard Buffet, told the BBC that as many as 2,000 people might have died in the east alone.

Ships and military aircraft have been sent to evacuate thousands of foreign nationals trying to flee the turmoil in Libya.