A group of Libyan residents in Athens on Monday took over the North African country's embassy in the Greek capital, taking down the green flag of the Gadhafi regime and hoisting the tri-colour flag of the country's provision council.

Several protesters, holding anti-regime flags and chanting slogans against embattled Libyan strongman Muammar Gadhafi, stormed the building earlier in the day. It is located in the Palaio Psychiko district, Athens' "diplomatic row".

The hereunto envoy of the Gadhafi regime was not in the embassy, reports state, while the Libyan charge d’affaires did not attempt to block the protesters or call Greek authorities to remove them.

A total of roughly 25 people remained in the embassy by mid-afternoon.