Gaddafi urges his men to fight back

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has urged a crowd of his supporters to fight back against protesters and “defend the nation”.

Gaddafi, wearing a fur cap and sunglasses, was speaking from the ramparts of the Red Castle, a historic fort, overlooking Tripoli’s Green Square, where over 1,000 of his supporters were massed tonight, waving pictures of him and green flags.

Anti-Gaddafi protests erupted during the day, met by gunfire from pro-regime militia.

Gaddafi, pumping his fist in the air, told the crowd to “retaliate against them, retaliate against them” and “prepare to defend the nation and defend the oil”.