US urges international community to repudiate violence in Libya

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Libya must end violence against protesters seeking to end Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's 41-year rule and the United States would take "appropriate steps" in time.

"As we gain a greater understanding of what actually is happening -- because you know, of course, that communication has been very effectively shut down and we are trying to gather as much information as possible -- we will take appropriate steps in line with our policies, our values and our laws," she told reporters during a news conference. "But we are going to have to work in concert with the international community."

Witnesses streaming out of Libya into Egypt said Gaddafi had used tanks, warplanes and mercenaries to try to crush protesters who have taken to the streets following uprisings that overthrew authoritarian rulers in Tunisia and Egypt.

"We are obviously watching developments in Libya with grave concern. We have joined with the international community in strongly condemning the violence in Libya and we believe that the government of Libya bears responsibility for what is occurring and must take actions to end the violence," Clinton said.

"As always the safety and well-being of US citizens has to be our highest priority and we are in touch with many Libyan officials directly and indirectly and with other governments in the region to try and influence what is going on inside Libya," she added.

Earlier, the State Department said it had been unable to move any of its nonessential US diplomats and embassy family members out of Libya and expected them to depart in coming days.