Yesterday, the UN secretary-general urged Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to stop the "escalating scale of violence" in the country.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has expressed "outrage" at reports of pro-democracy protesters in Libya being shot at from war planes by security forces.
"The secretary-general is outraged at press reports that the Libyan authorities have been firing at demonstrators from war planes and helicopters," said a statement issued by his office.
"Such attacks against civilians, if confirmed, would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and would be condemned by the Secretary-General in the strongest terms," it added.
The New York Times reported yesterday that security forces used fighter jets and live ammunition which witnesses described as "small bombs" on protesters in Tripoli.
The brutal crackdown was making it difficult for the protesters to continue the demonstrations against Muammar Gaddafi's 40-year-old rule.
"The world is watching the situation in Libya with alarm," US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said in a statement. "We join the international community in strongly condemning the violence in Libya."
Yesterday, Ban urged the Libyan leader to stop the "escalating scale of violence" in the country.
"The secretary-general expressed deep concern at the escalating scale of violence and emphasized that it must stop immediately," said an earlier statement from the UN.
"He (Ban) reiterated his call for respect for basic freedoms and human rights, including peaceful assembly and information," it said adding that he has been in close touch with key states about the Libya crisis.
Following the overthrow of leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, large-scale protests have erupted in several countries in the region including Bahrain, Yemen and Libya.
Human Rights Watch had put the figure of dead at least 223, but some other international rights groups said there could be up to 400 dead in the unrest.
US President Barack Obama has also condemned the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators in these three countries.
Reacting to the Libyan leader's explanation of the government's action, Ban said that the civilian population had to be protected under any circumstances.
"He (Ban) urged all parties to exercise restraint and called upon the authorities to engage in broad-based dialogue to address legitimate concerns of the population," the statement said.
The UN leader had a 40-minute telephone conversation with Kadhafi earlier to press for an end to violence and a broad-based dialogue with the opposition.
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