The casualty toll from riots in the Libyan city of Benghazi against cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed rose to 11 dead and 35 wounded, Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam said on Saturday.
"The protest was a mistake and the police intervention against the demonstrators was an even bigger mistake," he said.
"The incident would have been even more serious if the demonstrators had been able to penetrate the (Italian) consulate and attack the consul."
Around 1,000 demonstrators took part in Friday's protest in Benghazi, and some managed to break though police lines and set the consulate ablaze.
Police responded with tear gas and live fire.
Television pictures showed angry demonstrators setting fire to the Italian flag and throwing stones while thick clouds of black smoke billowed into sky.