Libya's rebel Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC) has called for renewed anti-government protests across the country on Friday, the same day that the council's leader is scheduled to meet officials at the White House, DPA reported.
The ITNC's Mahmoud Jibril will meet US President Barack Obama's national security adviser, Tom Donilon, and other top officials, but it was not made public whether he will also meet the President.
The meeting comes after several days of uprisings in different parts of the Libyan capital Tripoli, with the Free Libyan flag raised briefly on several schools and bridges earlier this week.
Although NATO has intensified its targeted strikes on military targets in the capital in recent days, the city remains largely under Moamer Gaddafi's control.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sharply criticized NATO operations in Libya, saying Friday alliance aircraft were pounding civilian targets in violation of United Nations rules.
"There are far too many violations of the resolution of the United Nations Security Council," Larvov told Russian reporters during a visit to Kazakhstan. "These things are unacceptable."
Hundreds of Muslim worshippers were gathered outside the rebel stronghold city of Benghazi's courthouse for mid-day Friday prayers, carrying the Free Libya flag and mourning those who've died in the past 12 weeks of violence.
Rebels in the northwestern city of Misurata, the country's third largest, claimed victory this week after successfully pushing back Gaddafi's forces from the city's airport.
However, the opposition remains concerned that Gaddafi's troops may return with more Grad rockets, mortars and cluster ammunitions similar to those used in previous weeks, which can reach the city from its outskirts.
The ITNC estimates that over 12,000 people have been killed since mid-February, when the uprising to oust Gaddafi from power began.
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