Embassies Now Protected, Kadafi Says

TRIPOLI, Libya — Moammar Kadafi said Friday that he had taken steps to protect the embassies of countries that favor sanctions against Libya.

The Libyan leader’s assurances came a day after Libyan rioters wrecked the Venezuelan Embassy, smashing furniture and ripping up the garden, and tried to storm the Russian mission, wrecking cars when they were turned back. They also threw rocks at the Austrian mission and held angry protests outside the Belgian, French and Italian embassies.

The attacks, which diplomats believe were orchestrated by the Libyan government, followed Tuesday’s U.N. Security Council vote to impose sanctions on Tripoli.