Video | Riots break out in Benghazi

According to reports, a crowd angry at the arrest of a rights campaigner, clashed with police and pro-Ghaddafi supporters.

Libyan state television said that rallies were being held across the country in support of Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi.

The online edition of Libya’s privately owned Quryna newspaper, which is based in Benghazi, said the crowd were armed with petrol bombs and also threw stones.

It said they protested outside a local government office to demand the release of the human rights activist, and then went to the city’s Shajara square where they clashed with police and government supporters.

According to the paper, 14 fourteen people were injured including 10 police officers, but none of the injuries were serious, the newspaper said.

Libyan state television showed footage of a rally in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, of government supporters.

Participants chanted slogans accusing Qatar-based television news channel al-Jazeera – which was instrumental in revolts in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt – of broadcasting lies.