But, in a TV address broadcast as violence spread to Tripoli, he accused the opposition and Islamists of trying to break up the country.
He said troops had opened fire on protesters because they were not trained to handle civil unrest.
He also promised "reform and democracy".
Libya's legislative forum would meet on Monday, he added.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says this muddled speech was not a convincing impression of a government still in control.
The address was broadcast as the first anti-government rallies broke out in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
The sound of gunfire could be heard across the city. Witnesses said tear gas and live ammunition were used against protesters by the security forces.
Reports from the eastern city of Benghazi say more than 200 people have died there in recent days after the Libyan military used heavy weapons against protesters.
'Drunkards and thugs'Sayf Gaddafi said "some" people had been killed but accused foreign media of exaggerating the violence, and said reports of high death tolls were "imaginary".
He accused "opposition elements" living abroad of trying to initiate an Egypt-style Facebook revolution in Libya.
"They have started a campaign to bring Libya to a point reached by Egypt and Tunisia," he said.
"Security forces have pre-empted this and arrested some of the people involved. A few people have died and violence against the police has escalated... This is what happened in Benghazi."
He warned of the threat of civil war, saying "everyone" in the country was armed and, if war started, Libyans would be "mourning hundreds and thousands of casualties".
He confirmed that protesters have seized control of some military bases and tanks in eastern Libya, and said "drunkards and thugs" were driving tanks about the streets.
Our correspondent says Sayf Gaddafi appears to be conceding that the country has already broken into two parts, with the east out of control.
A.nemdil & Press Agencies
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