Obama to Gaddafi: Stop or face military action

'UN resolution will be enforced through military action if Libyan leader does not comply,' American leader says, adding US 'is not going to deploy ground troops into Libya'

Associated Press|Published: 03.18.11 , 22:15

President Barack Obama demanded Friday that Moammar Gaddafi halt all military attacks against civilians and said that if the Libyan leader did not stand down the United States would join in military action against him.

Still, Obama also said the United States "is not going to deploy ground troops into Libya."

In a brief appearance at the White House, Obama said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton would travel to Paris on Saturday to join in a meeting of allies called to discuss next steps in Libya, where Gaddafi has launched a brutal crackdown against rebels trying to end his 42-year reign.

Obama's remarks came less than 24 hours after the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize military action to prevent the killing of civilians by Libyan forces.

There should be no doubt about Gaddafi's intentions "because he has made them clear," Obama said. "Just yesterday, speaking of the city of Benghazi, a city of roughly 700,000, he threatened 'we will have no mercy and no pity.' No mercy on his own citizens."

The president has been criticized by US lawmakers and others for not moving more forcefully while Gaddafi has regrouped in recent days and taken the offensive against the rebels. Obama said the United States and other nations have imposed sanctions on Libya, frozen assets of the leader and delivered humanitarian supplies to bordering countries to help ease the plight of thousands fleeing the fighting.

"Now, once more, Moammar Gaddafi has a choice," Obama said, listing what he said were non-negotiable conditions laid out by the UN Security Council.

"If Gaddafi does not comply, the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action," Obama said.

Obama did not specify what responsibilities would fall to the United States if military action is carried out against Gaddafi, but officials have said previously that American forces would help enforce a no-fly zone to prevent the Libyan leader from using his air force to bomb civilians.

The president made no reference to a Libya's declaration of an immediate ceasefire on Friday - a statement that a rebel spokesman said was fiction.

Instead, Obama listed a series of demands for Gaddafi, including the halting of all attacks against civilians, a stop to military action against Benghazi and other cities and permission for humanitarian supplies to reach the civilian population of the country.