WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday it was too early to say how things will play out in Libya.
Prior to leaving for Geneva, Switzerland, for a meeting with the U.N. Human Rights Council, Clinton said the Obama administration believes Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi "must go as soon as possible without further bloodshed and violence."
Asked if the United States has been in contact with opposition leaders in Libya said to be starting to set up an interim government in Benghazi under Mustafa Mohamed Abd al-Jalil, who quit as justice minister last week, Clinton replied, "we are just at the beginning of what will follow Gadhafi."
"First we have to see the end of his regime with no further violence and bloodshed, which is a big challenge in front of all of us," she said. "But we've been reaching out to many different Libyans who are attempting to organize in the east and as the revolution moves westward there as well. I think it's way too soon to tell how this is going to play out, but we're going to be ready and prepared to offer any kind of assistance that anyone wishes to have from the United States."
Clinton sidestepped a question about whether the United States has had talks with other countries about where Gadhafi would go into exile if he does decide to leave.
"How he manages that is obviously up to him and to his family," she said. "But we have consistently in many conversations over the last week sent messages, and along with partners in the region and beyond have made it clear we expect him to leave. But we're not involved in any kind of negotiation with him over that."
Clinton noted the resolution passed by the U.N. Security Council Saturday night that not only will Gadhafi be held accountable for any war crimes and other atrocities but "those who are around Gadhafi" also will shoulder the blame.
Clinton also called on other nations in the region to heed the "strong message" from the Security Council to stop mercenaries bent on going to Libya to support Gadhafi.
Juxtaposed against the violence in Libya, Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, she went on to King Hamad of Bahrain and King Abdallah of Jordan for engaging "in meaningful outreach and efforts to try to bring about the change that will be in line with the needs of the people of their countries."
