Some Libyans in Malta are being offered as much as €500 each to demonstrate in favour of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, it was claimed this morning.

The claim was made by Seddik Souqi, one of the organisers of a protest against Col Gaddafi currently being held outside the Libyan embassy. He said that no one appeared to have taken up the offer.

It was not clear if anybody had taken up the offer. One Libyan man turned up to back Col Gaddafi this morning but was ushered away from the embassy as anti-government protesters gathered.

Mr Souqi yesterday delivered a letter to the ambassador calling on him to resign. He said that the ambassador had promised to give a media update of developments in Libya, but that had not happened.

Meanwhile, the protesters this morning called on human rights organisation to investigate the atrocities currently taking place in Libya and said that statements such as those by President Obama that he was 'worried' were not enough and the people of Libya needed tangible help.

GADDAFI PICTURES SET ON FIRE

The protesters also said that they were insisting that the flag at the embassy should be replaced by the pre-Gaddafi revolution national flag.

During the noisy protest those taking part are chanting slogans against Col Gaddafi. Portraits of the Libyan leader have been set on fire, while other protesters took off their shoes and are using them to hit pictures of Col Gaddafi.

LIBYAN AMBASSADOR TO THE US RESIGNS

Meanwhile, international media reports said this morning that the Libyan ambassador to the US was the latest high level diplomat to quit.

It was also reported today that Libyan aircraft bombed an army dump near Tripoli last night and helicopter gunships shot at protesters.