20110223
reuters

UNITED NATIONS/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Libyan diplomats at the United Nations and several countries broke ranks with the country's leader Muammar Gaddafi, urging foreign nations on Tuesday to help stop what many called the slaughter of anti-government protesters.

Gaddafi's forces have cracked down fiercely on demonstrators demanding an end to his 41-year rule, with fighting spreading to the capital Tripoli after erupting in Libya's oil-producing east last week. Human rights groups say at least 233 people have been killed.

Ali al-Essawi, Libya's ambassador to India who resigned his post in protest at the violent crackdown, told Reuters he was beseeching global powers to help his people, who he said were being killed by mercenaries and air force strikes.

"Libyans cannot do anything against the air fighters. We do not call for international troops, but we call on the international community to save the Libyans," Essawi said, looking nervous and agitated in a New Delhi hotel room where he is staying after leaving the embassy.

"I call on the five permanent members of the (United Nations) Security Council. Now is the time to be fair and honest to protect the Libyan people."

He also said several members of the military had defected because of they could not "see foreigners killing Libyans."

The U.N. Security Council held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Libya, at the request of Ibrahim Dabbashi, Libya's deputy ambassador to the United Nations who also withdrew his support for Gaddafi, denouncing him as a "tyrant."

But Libyan U.N. Ambassador Abdurrahman Shalgham, who was away from New York on Monday and did not sign onto the anti-Gaddafi statement issued by Dabbashi and others, told reporters he still supported Gaddafi.