The son of Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, vowed the state will regain control over the eastern cities soon after protesters took control over them, dpa reported.
"We are assured that the state will regain control over eastern cities of the country," he told a press conference late on Friday.
He said he was receiving phone calls from residents there, especially from Benghazi city, people who were complaining of the deterioration of their living conditions.
Witnesses said that protesters are now in control of most of the eastern cities, including Benghazi, the second largest city after the capital Tripoli.
"Girls were prevented from going down the street, schools are closed and life is at standstill because of what they described as Islamists seizing control of the place there by force," added Saif al-Islam.
He also denied that mercenaries have taken part in attacking protesters, after witnesses said that mercenaries from Chad, Mali and other African countries have been involved in attacks on protesters who are calling for the ouster of Gaddafi.
"We are dealing with terrorists. The army decided not to attack the terrorists and give them an opportunity for negotiation. We hope to do this in a peaceful and we will do so by tomorrow," he added.
Peaceful anti-government protesters in Tripoli came under fire Friday as Gaddafi surfaced in the capital urging supporters to kill those against him.
The leader remained defiant even as the international community prepared tougher measures against his regime, with the United States announcing sanctions and the United Nations preparing to discuss its own measures on Saturday.
Gaddafi grabbed control of Libya in a coup in 1969 and is the longest-serving Arab leader.
In separate remarks Friday, Saif al-Islam appealed to the European community to send an international fact-finding mission to Libya to disprove media reports about atrocities.
"We are not afraid of facts. We are worried about rumours and lies, because the facts are on our side," he said in remarks broadcast by al-Jazeera.