(Al Jazeera English: 0400 PST, February 22, 2011) The future of Libya appears to be a knife-edge, as airforce fighter jets have bombarded the capital, Tripoli, reportedly on the orders of leader Muammer Gaddafi. Witnesses in Tripoli say that mercenaries are roaming the streets, firing at anyone they see in a bid to dissuade people from demonstrating against Gaddafi.

High-level diplomats from Gaddafi's government, meanwhile, have been resigning or disavowing themselves from his leadership across the world. Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports.

Stories of 'Death and Destruction" Emerge from Libya

(Al Jazeera English: 0430 PST, February 22, 2011)Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal reaches the Egyptian side of the border with Libya and begins to receive reports from those fleeing the country in revolt.

Civilians have rushed to the Al Jazeera team with memory sticks, telling him they contain images of "horrific scenes": planes and helicopter gunships firing indiscriminately, and mercenaries breaking into homes and "slaughtering" people.