Obama Warns Libya, but Attacks Go On

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Friday ordered Col.Muammar el-Qaddafi to carry out an immediate cease-fire, withdraw his forces from rebel-held cities and stop all attacks on Libyan civilians or face military action from the United States and its allies in Europe and the Arab world.

“Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable,” Mr. Obama said from the East Room of the White House. Those terms, particularly lifting the siege of opposition-held territories, would give the rebels a reprieve, if not a military advantage.

Libya had pledged a cease-fire hours before. But reports from rebel-held territory indicated that the attacks by Qaddafi militias continued unabated in the east and west.

The New York Times http://nyti.ms/eBKa9c reports on this story.

The question is whether the U.S. and President Obama have the fortitude to uphold the U.N. resolutions put forth on Thursday.