The UN Security Council has condemned the Libyan authorities for using force against protesters, calling for those responsible to be held to account.

In a statement, the council demanded an immediate end to the violence and said Libya's rulers had to "address the legitimate demands of the population".

Nearly 300 people have been killed so far, according to Human Rights Watch.

Col Muammar Gaddafi urged his supporters to attack the "cockroaches" and "rats" protesting against his rule. Anyone who took up arms against Libya would be executed, he warned. "I am not going to leave this land. I will die here as a martyr. I shall remain here defiant," he vowed.

Interior Minister Abdel Fattah Younes al-Abidi later resigned and called on the armed forces to "join and heed the people's demands".

The UN Security Council's statement came after a day of debate on the uprising in Libya, which has seen the state lose control of much of the east of the country, foreign mercenaries allegedly attacking civilians on the streets and warplanes reportedly shooting and bombing protesters.

The council's 15 members said the Libyan authorities should "meet its responsibility to protect its population", act with restraint, and respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

The Libyan authorities should also hold accountable those people responsible for attacking civilians, and respect the rights of its citizens to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and press freedom, they added.

The Arab League also condemned the "crimes" against protesters in Libya and said it would bar the country from League meetings, BBC reports.