Obama issues warning to Gadhafi

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama demanded Friday that Moammar Gadhafi halt all military attacks on civilians and said that if the Libyan leader did not stand down, the United States would join other nations in launching military action against him.

But the president also stressed 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 allies in discussing next steps in Libya, where Gadhafi has pressed a brutal crackdown against rebels trying to end his 42-year reign.

Stressing that the United States was acting in concert with European allies and Arab nations, the president said, "Our goal is focused, our cause is just and our coalition is strong."

Obama's remarks came less than 24 hours after the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize military action -- including a no-fly zone over Libya -- to prevent the killing of civilians by Gadhafi's forces.

The president spoke with congressional leaders before his public statement, but an official said no request was made for formal congressional action. Obama drew quick support from House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, a critic of the Iraq war.

Obama said there should be no doubt about Gadhafi's intentions "because he has made them clear. Just yesterday . . . he threatened, 'We will have no mercy and no pity.' No mercy on his own citizens."

Obama has been criticized by some U.S. lawmakers and others for not moving more forcefully while Gadhafi has regrouped in recent days and taken the offensive against the rebels.

Obama did not specify what responsibilities would fall to the United States if military action is carried out against Gadhafi, 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.