A number of Libyan men held a protest outside the Libyan embassy this morning, insisting it should be closed because it does not represent the Libyan people.

The police kept the group, of about 25, across the road from the Libyan embassy in Balzan.

A spokesman said the Libyan community in Malta was collecting signatures to a petition calling on Foreign Minister Tonio Borg to order the closure of the embassy. Some 220 signatures have already been collected.

They are also calling on the minister to put pressure for the resignation of the ambassador.

"The embassy is still flying Gaddafi's green flag, and so it does not represent the Libyan people," a protester said.

Banners in English read "The tyrant's era is over. Your presence here is illegal. You're like a virus in a healthy body. Get out."

Another in Arabic read "The time of dictatorship is over."

Protesters complained that although they had a permit to protest in front of the embassy, they were not allowed there and sent to the opposite side of the road.

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