Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has warned that continuing protests will escalate chaos in the country.

In an interview with state TV on Thursday, Gaddafi accused Al-Qaida of fueling the unrest and called for its members to be arrested.

He said Al-Qaida wants to build an Islamic emirate in Libya, and linked the protests with Osama bin Laden. He expressed sorrow for those killed in the clashes, but added that the West had a hand in the country's unrest.