Clinton urges Gadhafi to 'stop bloodshed'

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is condemning the violence against anti-government protesters in Libya and calling on the government of Moammar Gadhafi to "stop this unacceptable bloodshed."

Clinton said the world is watching events unfold in Libya "with alarm." The strongly worded statement came amid reports from Tripoli that warplanes were swooping low over the city and snipers were taking up positions on rooftops.

In yesterday's statement, Clinton said Gadhafi's government must respect universal rights, including the right of free expression and assembly. She said the Obama administration is working with international allies to convey the message to the Libyan government.

The White House said Monday that it's analyzing the speech by Gadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, to determine whether it has possibilities for democratic changes in Libya.

A White House official says the administration is seeking clarification from senior Libyan officials about their intentions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

The official said President Barack Obama was briefed by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon late Sunday and is being kept abreast of events. The official said the Obama administration is considering "all appropriate actions."

Meanwhile, the State Department has ordered all embassy family members and non-emergency personnel to depart Libya and is warning American travelers of the potential for ongoing unrest in the African nation.

The State Department says U.S. citizens should exercise extreme caution and should avoid areas where demonstrations are likely to occur. U.S. citizens outside of Libya are urged to defer all travel to Libya. The department says there is no indication that Westerners are being threatened or targeted at this time.