The United Nations human rights chief has warned Libya's regime to end the "grave human rights violations" committed by authorities, saying attacks against the civilian population could be categorised as "crimes against humanity".
Navi Pillay says it is unconscionable that Libyan authorities - and hired mercenaries - are reportedly shooting live ammunition at peaceful protesters.
She has urged the international community to support an investigation into the violence.
"I am extremely worried that lives are being lost even as I speak," she said.
"The international community must unite in condemnation of such acts and make unequivocal commitments to ensure justice is rendered to the thousands of victims of this repression."
Human rights workers now put the death toll in the hundreds.
Loyalists have quit in protest at the brutal crackdown while fighter pilots have also defected after being ordered to fire on demonstrators.
Ms Pillay also praised the people of Libya for taking a stand against repressive authorities.
She says they have "long been victims of the serious excesses of the Libyan leadership".
"The Libyan people are tired of corruption, tired of resource wealth benefiting only a few, tired of being unemployed, tired of their rights being ignored," she said.
"They want a say in the government and a role in the economy and they will not be silenced."
'They are bombing us'
A weeping resident of the Libyan town of Al Bayda has described how forces using aircraft and tanks killed 26 local people overnight, including his own brother, in the revolt against Muammar Gaddafi.
Libyans are now "scared of their own shadows", said Marai Al Mahry, from the Ashraf tribe, who named his dead brother as Ahmed al Mahry.
"This is worse than anyone can imagine, this is something no human can fathom," he told Reuters.
"They are bombing us with planes, they are killing us with tanks."
Mr Mahry accused forces loyal to Mr Gaddafi of indiscriminate killing on the streets of the coastal town, which lies east of Benghazi.
"They shoot you just for walking on the street," he said.
Egyptians flee
There have been reports that Egyptians living and working in Libya were being targeted - thousands of whom are now trying to flee the country.
Around 10,000 Egyptians are waiting to cross the border from Libya and two Egyptian military planes have arrived in Tripoli to help in evacuations.
Egypt has also beefed up its security at the border and set up a field hospital nearby to treat any wounded.
The Libyan side of Egypt's border is now controlled by men armed with clubs and Kalashnikov assault rifles opposed to Mr Gaddafi, a Reuters correspondent reported.
One held up a picture of Mr Gaddafi, upside down, and defaced with the words "the butcher tyrant, murderer of Libyans", the correspondent said from the town of Musaid on the Libyan side of the border.
The UN Security Council was to meet later Tuesday (local time) at the urging of Libyan diplomats who defected in protest at the brutal crackdown. The Arab League was also to discuss the bloody revolt.
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