Obama to Libya: There will be consequences

WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Friday warned Libya's Moammar Gadhafi there will be consequences unless the bloodshed in the North African country stops.

Obama's remarks followed a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing a no-fly zone to keep Gadhafi forces from bombing rebel strongholds, mostly in the east.

The Libyan government said it was declaring a cease-fire "to protect civilians," the BBC reported.

"Moammar Gadhafi has a choice," Obama said. "The [U.N.] resolution that passed lays out very clear conditions that must be met. The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. That means all attacks against civilians must stop. Gadhafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misurata and Zawiyah, and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya.

"Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable. These terms are not subject to negotiation. If Gadhafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action."

Obama said Gadhafi "clearly has lost the confidence of his own people" and must pull back his forces.

The president said the international community was compelled to act because "left unchecked, we have every reason to believe Gadhafi would commit atrocities against his people."

Additionally, Obama said, the situation in Libya could destabilize the entire region.

Libya has been rocked by protests that began last month. Rather than negotiating with protesters or considering reforms, Gadhafi has attempted to repress the uprising.

"Just yesterday … he threatened, 'We will have no mercy and no pity,'" Obama quoted Gadhafi as saying -- "no mercy on his own citizens."