The Internet has been shut down in Libya, according to multiple reports.

Al Jazeera said Friday that its broadcasting signal was being jammed on several over-the-air TV frequencies and its website had been blocked in Libya, Reuters reported.

Agence France-Presse reported Friday that Facebook access was being blocked in Tripoli, the Libyan capital. Internet service was either slow or unavailable as protests against Moammar Kadafi continued there for the fourth day in a row.

AFP said at least 41 people have died in Libya since Tuesday. The anti-government protests and violence against demonstrators aren't limited to Libya, but have been seen this week in Bahrain, Iran, Jordan and Yemen.

The unrest follows the successes in Tunisia and Egypt, where nonviolent protesters have removed government leaders and uprisings attempting to install democracies are taking place.

Shutting down the Internet, and particularly social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, are becoming standard practice in the Middle East and Africa with the same thing happening in Tunisia and Egypt during their historic uprisings.

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Image: Supporters of Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi hold up his picture in Tripoli on Friday. Violence against anti-government protesters is continuing in the Libyan capital. Credit: Mahmud Turkia /AFP/Getty Images

