Troops attack Tripoli protesters

Libyan protesters and security forces battled for control of Tripoli’s city centre overnight, with snipers opening fire and supporters of leader Muammar Gaddafi shooting from speeding vehicles, witnesses have said.

The protests appear to be the heaviest in Libya’s capital after days of deadly clashes in eastern cities.

Three witnesses say protesters moved into Tripoli’s central Green Square and nearby squares on Sunday night. Plain-clothes security forces and militiamen attacked in clashes that lasted until dawn.

One witness said snipers opened fire from rooftops, while two others said gunmen in vehicles with photos of Col Gaddafi sped through, opening fire and running people over.

The protests and violence were the heaviest yet in the capital, a sign of the spread of unrest after six days of demonstrations in eastern cities demanding the end of the elder Gaddafi’s rule.

In Libya’s second biggest city, Benghazi, protesters were in control of the streets after days of bloody clashes and were swarming over the main security headquarters, looting weapons.

Libya has seen the bloodiest crackdown of any Arab country on the wave of protests sweeping the region that toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia. Since the six days of unrest began, more than 200 people have been killed, according human rights groups.

In in a rambling and sometimes confused national TV address Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam said his father would prevail.

“We are not Tunisia and Egypt,” he said. “Our leader, is leading the battle in Tripoli, and we are with him.”

He warned the protesters that they risked igniting a civil war in which Libya’s oil wealth “will be burned.” He also promised “historic” reforms in Libya if protests stop.