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• UN calls for immediate end to violence • Gaddafi tells Libya: ‘I’ll die a martyr’ • Mercenaries and militias roam Tripoli • Eastern Libya in opposition hands 8.36am: In other developments in the region, Bahrain has begun freeing political and other prisoners, including 23 accused of seeking to overthrow the kingdom’s Sunni Muslim monarchy. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has announced a series of housing and other benefits for Saudis ahead of his return on from several months abroad for health treatment. 8.29am: Reuters is reporting that a senior aide to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who was supposed to be a modernising force in Libya, has resigned to protest against the violence used by the regime. “I resigned from the Gaddafi Foundation on Sunday to express dismay against violence,” Youssef Sawani said in a text message sent to a Reuters correspondent. He was executive director of the foundation, which has been Saif al-Islam’s main vehicle for wielding influence. 8.22am: Muammar Gaddafi appears increasingly isolated as the UN security council yesterday called for an immediate end to the violence in Libya and demanded that he lives up to his responsibilities to protect his own people. But the man who has ruled Libya for 42 years made clear in a long, sometimes incoherent speech that he is not giving up without a fight . Urging loyalists to take to the streets to fight “greasy rats” in the pay of enemies ranging from the US to al-Qaida, he declared: “I am not going to leave this land. I will die as a martyr at the end … I shall remain, defiant. Muammar is leader of the revolution until the end of time.” Reports from Tripoli describe corpses left in the streets, burnt-out cars and shops, and armed mercenaries who looked as if they were from other parts of Africa. Residents were running out of food and water because they feel too threatened to leave their houses. But while Gaddafi clings on in Tripoli, the eastern part of the country is already out of his grasp. Benghazi, Tobruk and other eastern towns, are no longer under the control of his security forces. Unconfirmed reports said the interior minister had resigned, urging the army to join the people and respond to the “legitimate demands”. Libyan and foreign analysts said Gaddafi’s characteristically bizarre performance underlined his desperation. “He is like an injured animal,” said an exiled opposition activist, Abu Nasser. “He knows he has his back to the wall.” Noman Benotman, a former Islamist fighter, said: “He will stay and fight until the last day.” Be that as it may, Gaddafi cuts an increasingly forlorn figure. The Arab League has barred Libya from attending meetings of the bloc until it ends its violent crackdown on protesters, which it said involved violations of human rights and international laws. Peru has severed relations with Libya over its use of force against civilians. We are looking for your first-person accounts of protests where you are. Now you can record your own Audioboo voice recording and send it straight to us. Click here to record an Audioboo . Log in using your Audioboo or Twitter account. If you don’t have one, log in using these details: Username: GuardianMEaudio Password: GuardianMEaudio Then click “start recording/upload file”. Once you have recorded your file, we will listen to it and post the most interesting ones on this blog. Arab and Middle East protests Libya Egypt Bahrain Yemen Tunisia Middle East Mark Tran guardian.co.uk