Clinton outraged at Libya, Iran
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- World leaders are considering multiple options to force Gadhafi to step down
- U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with U.N. Secretary-General
- U.S. naval and air forces in the region are being repositioned.
- European Union has imposed new sanctions against the Libyan regime
(CNN) — Top international leaders worked Monday to hasten the removal of embattled Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, considering a range of options meant to break the dictator’s grip on power.
U.S. President Barack Obama prepared to meet Monday afternoon with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss a variety of measures under consideration.
All options are still on the table, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Gadhafi and those around him must be held accountable (for any actions) which violate international legal obligations and common decency,” she said. “Through their actions, they have lost the legitimacy to govern.”
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that the imposition of a no-fly zone over certain portions of the increasingly chaotic country was among the courses of action being contemplated.
American officials are “actively reaching out” to Libyan opponents of the ruling regime, Carney said. “Gadhafi needs to step aside.”
Carney indicated that exile is “certainly one option” for the Libyan leader.
Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan said the U.S. military is “repositioning” regional naval and air forces in the region to prepare for various contingencies. He refused to indicate whether any American ground forces have been put on a heightened state of alert.
British Prime Minister David Cameron echoed Washington’s call for Gadhafi to step aside.
“We are taking every step possible to isolate the Gadhafi regime, deprive it of money, shrink its power and ensure that anyone responsible for abuses in Libya will be held to account,” Cameron told members of Britain’s parliament Monday.
In Brussels, the European Union banned the sale of arms and ammunition to Libya. It also prohibited any trade with Gadhafi’s government that could lead to the acquisition of equipment that could be used for the repression of Libyans.
The EU also froze the assets of Gadhafi and five members of his family, while imposing a visa ban on Gadhafi and 15 other people tied to the regime’s crackdown.
“The massive violence against peaceful demonstrators shocks our conscience,” EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said. “It should also spring us into action.”
Over the weekend, Italy suspended a treaty with Libya that includes a non-aggression pact, helping to pave the way for possible military action by U.S. or NATO troops. Italy is home to the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet.
Despite the growing international pressure, Gadhafi stood his ground Monday. Protesters fearful of violence stayed off the streets in Tripoli. Government officials warned that thousands of people could die if the popular uprising continues.
The death toll from the unrest — now in its 14th day — has already topped 1,000, according to a U.N. estimate.
Clinton noted Monday that U.S. humanitarian teams have been dispatched to Libya’s borders at Tunisia and Egypt. Washington has set aside an additional $10 million for humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, she noted.
CNN’s Alan Silverleib, Lesa Jansen, and Larry Shaughnessy contributed to this report
Part of complete coverage on
Are you in the Middle East or North Africa? Send iReport your images. Don’t do anything that could put you at risk
CNN gives the key data on each nation experiencing unrest with updates on what’s happening where
CNN examines how common internet, mobile phones and social media sites are in the Mideast and African nations
Few have asked why the primary leaders of grassroots revolt in Egypt and across the Arab world curiously have not been Islamic organizations
For full coverage in Arabic of events in Egypt, Tunisia and the rest of the region, head to CNN Arabic.
Nadia Oweidat and Cynthia Schneider say the determination of regime-toppling protesters will lead to an Arab world grounded in democracy
CNN’s Nima Elbagir reports on the smuggled videos that are documenting the tales of horror coming out of Libya.
CNN’s Ben Wedeman reports from Benghazi, Libya, where it is open house at the ransacked and torched Gadhafi home
More here:
World leaders step up pressure on Gadhafi