More details are coming in on estimates from the Libyan Human Rights League that 6,000 people have been killed in Libya since the start of the revolt.
Ali Zeidan, a spokesman for the group, tells AFP reporters in Paris that 3,000 are thought to have died in the capital Tripoli, 2,000 in the rebel-held second city Benghazi and 1,000 in other cities.
"This is what people told us, but it can be more," he adds.
Diplomats have said that between 1,000 and 2,000 people have been killed in the rebellion, although precise figures are hard to come by because of the situation on the ground.
Zeidan says thousands of mercenaries were deployed in Libya, including 3,000 in Tripoli and 3,000 just outside it, allegedly being commanded by officers from Libya's southern neighbour, Chad.
1521 GMT Moamer Kadhafi has appointed new interior and justice ministers to replace men who resigned and joined the insurrection against him, state television reports.
One of the defecting officials, former justice minister Mustapha Abdel Jalil, is heading a new national council set up by rebels in eastern Libya. He will be replaced by Ahmad al-Qmouidi, while Massoud Abdel Hafiz replaces Abdel Fatah Younes as interior minister.
The marathon speech broadcast by Kadhafi on state TV earlier finally wrapped up after two-and-a-half hours. Among other things, the Libyan leader used the speech to challenge calls for him to step down, saying he has "no real power."
1509 GMT More coming in from our correspondent in Brega who has been speaking to Khalid al-Quafi, a worker at the Sirte oil company compound. Al-Quafi was originally responsible for health and safety at the plant, but since the revolt has been looking after workers staying there, our reporter says.
Describing this morning's attack by pro-Kadhafi fighters, Al-Quafi says: "They came at 6:30 am and shot the people guarding the gate. When I heard the fire, I climbed up the Uria (fertiliser) tower. I saw everything. They killed the two people at the gate, the two of them young boys. After 45 minutes, they left the compound."
1500 GMT Libyan dissidents who control part of the country's east are calling for the UN to order air strikes on pro-Kadhafi mercenaries, AFP's correspondent in Benghazi reports.
1444 GMT At least 6,000 people have died since the start of the Libyan revolt two weeks ago, a spokesman for the Libyan Human Rights League says.
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