Tripoli: Moammar Gaddafi's regime accused the West of 'a conspiracy to divide Libya' as Washington, under mounting pressure to help opposition forces, said it was premature to arm the rebels.

Fresh

Muammar Gaddafi's regime struck back at its opponents with a powerful attack on Friday on the closest opposition-held city to Tripoli and a barrage of tear gas and live ammunition to smother new protests in the capital. At least 37 people died in fighting and in an explosion at an ammunitions depot in Libya's rebellious East.

Washington: Libya's interior minister has resigned in support of protesters and predicted that the movement against Muammar Gaddafi's 41-year-rule will achieve victory 'in a matter of days or hours',