Obama says he’s preparing ‘full range of options’ on Libya

WASHINGTON — In his first public comments on the Libyan crisis, President Obama said Wednesday his administration is preparing “the full range of options” to respond and condemned the government’s “outrageous and unacceptable” suppression of its citizens’ rights.

Without offering specific details, Obama said the United States would study “accountability measures” it might take unilaterally or in cooperation with allies and multinational organizations.

Obama said the actions of the Libyan government “violate international norms and every standard of common decency,” and called for violence to stop immediately.

“Like all governments, the Libyan government has a responsibility to refrain from violence, to allow humanitarian assistance to reach those in need, and respect the rights of its people. It must be held accountable for its failure to meet those responsibilities, and face the costs of continued violations of human rights,” he said.

Speaking from the White House, Obama said he is sending Undersecretary of State Bill Burns to meet with American allies in Europe to “intensify our consultations” on the situation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also travel to Geneva for discussions with other foreign ministers on events throughout the Arab world.

“In a volatile situation like this one it is imperative that the nations and peoples of the world speak with one voice. And that has been our focus,” he said. “North and south, east and west, voices are being raised together to oppose suppression and support the rights of the Libyan people.”

Speaking more broadly, Obama said anti-government demonstrations in the region are “being driven by the people of the region,” and not by foreign powers like the United States.

“It represents the aspirations of people who are seeking a better life,” he said. “It is the most basic of aspirations that is driving those dreams.”

Until Wednesday, the president had been silent on the violence in the Arab nation. On Friday, the White House released a statement from Obama condemning “violence by governments against peaceful protesters” in Libya as well as Bahrain and Yemen.

Earlier, White House spokesman Jay Carney rebutted questions about whether the United States lacked a coherent policy in responding to the anti-government demonstrations throughout the Middle East.

“The principles that guide our day-to-day decisions about how we handle these circumstances have not changed,” he said. “If you look at the speech and the text of the speech that the president delivered in Cairo, you can find the clear lines that you’re hearing today from this podium and from the president.”

He also suggested that Obama has refrained from public comment out of concern for the safety of Americans still in Libya.

“The safety of American citizens is obviously of concern to the president, as it should be,” he said. “He’s also extremely concerned and alarmed by the horrific violence and bloodshed that’s happened in Libya.”

mmemoli@tribune.com