Libyan leader, protesters defiant as world leaders seek resolution

International pressure mounted against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Saturday, a day after world leaders demanded action to stop a bloody crackdown on protesters in the north African nation.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon called for an effective solution to end the violence against anti-government protesters. A United Nations security panel is scheduled to meet Saturday morning to discuss a draft resolution against Gadhafi, who is clinging to power despite protesters' call for an end to his 42-year rule.

A Libyan envoy tearfully asked the United Nations Security Council to help end the bloodshed during a special session Friday.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in clashes in recent days, Ban estimated. He called for an immediate resolution to the crisis.

"In these circumstances, the loss of time means more loss of lives," Ban told the 15-member security council.

Ban also cited reports of security forces shooting civilians at homes and inside hospitals in the capital, Tripoli.

The capital is largely deserted because people are afraid of being shot by government forces or militias, witnesses said.

Security forces and protesters have clashed daily in at least three cities near the capital, according to Ban.

Human rights groups and witnesses have reported indiscriminate killings, shooting of peaceful demonstrators, torture of the opposition and use of foreign mercenaries, Ban said.

CNN could not confirm reports for many areas in Libya. The Libyan government maintains tight control of communications. CNN has interviewed numerous witnesses by phone.

The draft resolution the security panel will consider Saturday includes an arms embargo, asset freeze and a travel ban. It also requests that the International Criminal Court investigate alleged crimes during the unrest in Libya.

The International Criminal Court has said it can only take up the case if Libyan authorities accept its jurisdiction or the security council refers the situation to the court.

Unless either decision is taken, it cannot investigate because Libya is not a state party to the court, prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said.

As the standoff continues, the embattled leader has vowed to die a martyr, and is calling on his supporters to defend the nation.

Gadhafi -- wearing a fur hat and addressing a crowd of supporters -- vowed to crack down during a speech on state television.

"We can destroy any assault with the people's will, with the armed people," he said Friday. "And when it is necessary, the weapons depots will be open to all the Libyan people to be armed."

Meanwhile, world leaders joined Ban to call for action and seek a solution to the crisis.

Ban said he will go to Washington on Monday to speak with U.S. President Barack Obama.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Washington was suspending embassy operations in Tripoli and pursuing sanctions. State Department officials said they have other channels to communicate with the Libyan government, and emphasized that while the embassy is closed, the relations are not broken.

"The flag is still flying. The embassy is not closed. Operations are suspended," said Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Rasmussen said the alliance has assets that can be used in the crisis and it could "act as an enabler and coordinator, if and when, individual member states want to take action."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that "interventionist" countries were exploiting the situation, the state-run AVN news agency reported.

Chavez, a longtime ally of Gadhafi, said many nations have shown a "double standard" by condemning the Libyan government but remaining silent about the Venezuelan leader described as massacres of women and children in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They have no morals then to condemn anyone. We have to strongly oppose the interventionist claims," he said.

Chavez said that his government had maintained a "prudent silence" on events in Libya due to "disinformation on the part of the Western media, about the situation in Libya and the Arab world," AVN reported.

"Because we are accustomed to how global media operate, we have to be against manipulation," he said.

Libya's uprising, after four decades of Gadhafi's iron rule, first started in the nation's eastern province.

Benghazi and other smaller eastern towns are no longer under the ruler's control.

However, closer to Tripoli, where the dictator maintains some support, protesters were still being met with brute force.