Libya's independence flag, which was flown between the time the country obtained independence until Muamar Kadhafi came to power nearly 42 years ago, was on Tuesday raised over Libya's embassy in Stockholm.

"We did this because it was a condition set by the demonstrators before leaving," explained an embassy secretary to AFP and a few other reporters through a cracked door.

"But the ambassador has not resigned," he insisted.

The Kingdom of Libya flag -- in red, black and green with a white crescent and star in the middle -- was in use from 1951 to 1969. It has for the past week been used by anti-Kadhafi protesters as a symbol of the ongoing uprising in the country.

Between 50 and 100 protesters had gathered in the central Stockholm square Sergels Torg earlier Tuesday shouting "Down with the dictator!" and "Kadhafi, murderer!", before marching to the embassy to replace the current all-green flag.

The red, black and green flag was raised to thunderous applause from onlookers, some of who in their enthusiasm threw their arms around the ambassador, the TT news agency reported.

On Monday, three non-diplomatic employees at the embassy announced in an open letter that they were quitting to protest the bloody crackdown on demonstrators in Libya, which human rights groups say have so far cost up to 400 lives.