TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's leadership was wrong to threaten more violence against protesters and must start a dialogue with its opponents, a former senior government official said on Monday in a sign of divisions within the ruling elite.
Mohamed Bayou, who until a month ago was chief government spokesman, said the Libyan leadership should convene a meeting of civil society to draft the country's first constitution.
In a speech broadcast on Libyan television, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, said his father would fight attempts to unseat him until "the last man standing" and warned the death toll could rise even further.
"Until last week, I had good feelings for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi," Bayou said in a statement obtained by Reuters.
"The intervention last night came late, after the fire had spread, and now his threat of violence increased the anger. He was not wise in his words."
Anti-government protesters have rallied in Tripoli's streets, tribal leaders have spoken out against Muammar Gaddafi, and army units have defected to the opposition in the revolt that has cost the lives of more than 200 people.
In comments addressed to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Bayou said: "I hope that he will ... change his speech to acknowledge the existence of an internal popular opposition, to enter into dialogue with them regarding thorough changes in the Libyan system."
"That includes a transition stage where an expanded civil society will be established to discuss holding a new meeting on the constitution and a group of basic laws and also to select wise men to calm down the people."
"The situation in Libya remains difficult and ambiguous and hard to predict and the truth remains that innocent Libyans were killed in their hundreds during this crisis."
(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by David Stamp)
