World leaders call on Gaddafi to quit

LIBYAN protest leaders established a transitional “national council” yesterday in cities seized from Muammar Gaddafi, as world leaders called on him to quit and protesters closed in on Tripoli.

The chaos engulfing the oil-rich North African state of 6.3 million has fanned fears that Gaddafi’s hold on power could descend into civil war as the United Nations said nearly 100,000 people have streamed out of the country.

The UN Security Council imposed a travel and assets ban on Gaddafi’s regime and ordered an investigation into possible crimes against humanity by the Libyan leader, the first time such a decision has been made unanimously.