Gaddafi dismissed reports that he has fled

Libya's leader, Muammar Gaddafi, has dismissed reports that he has fled the country, calling them "malicious rumours" spread by "hating channels".

Speaking to state TV from outside a ruined building, he asserted: "I am in Tripoli and not in Venezuela."

UK Foreign Minister William Hague had said he had seen information suggesting Col Gaddafi was on his way to Caracas.

Earlier, the new General Committee for Defence said its forces would cleanse Libya of anti-government elements.

A statement described the protesters as "terrorist gangs made up mostly of misguided youths", who had been exploited and fed "hallucinogenic pills" by people following foreign agendas.

But Libya's diplomats at the United Nations in New York called for international intervention to stop the government's violent action against street demonstrations in their homeland.

Deputy Permanent Representative Ibrahim Dabbashi said Libyans had to be protected from what he called a "genocide".

Mr Dabbashi urged the UN to impose a no-fly zone over Tripoli, where there have been reports of warplanes attacking protesters.

Ali Aujali, Libya's most senior diplomat in the US, also criticised Col Gaddafi. He told the BBC he was "not supporting the government killing its people".

The US joined "international community in strongly condemning the violence in Libya," said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"Now is the time to stop this unacceptable bloodshed," she added.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "outraged" at reports that the Libyan authorities had been firing at protesters from military aircraft, and warned that they would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law, a spokesman said.