The Dubai-based Al Arabia television channel reported Saturday that the internet service in Libya has been shut down after protesters demanding more civil rights clashed with police and government supporters.

The Al Arabia quoted Arbor Networks, a U.S.-based network monitoring company, as saying that the internet service in Libya was suddenly cut off at about 2 a.m. (2300 GMT) on Saturday.

The internet service was disrupted on Friday after mass protests broke out in Libya's second largest city of Benghazi three days ago, it added.

At least 20 people in Benghazi and seven in Derna in eastern Libya were killed in anti-government protests, Oea newspaper reported on its website Friday. The Libyan authorities have not released the death toll and the number of the injured in the anti- government demonstrations.