Libya unrest:Obama speaks out

The popular uprising in Libya to topple  the government is causing  unrest throughout the  Middle east/North Africa region.

US President Barack Obama speaks for the first time on Libya after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said in a defiant speech that he would not step down,
promising tougher action against the protesters.Obama asked
the world to speak in one voice against violence by the Gaddafi-regime.

"I am not going to leave this land, I will die here as a martyr," Gaddafi said on state television, refusing to bow to calls from his own diplomats, soldiers and protesters clamoring in the streets for an end to his four decades at the helm.

Condemning  Gaddafi's actions as outrageous,  Obama has warned the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi that he faces the prospect of international sanctions over violence against demonstrators.
"The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable. So are threats and orders to shoot peaceful protesters and further punish the people of Libya. These actions violate international norms and every standard of common decency. This violence must stop," Obama said.


For exerting more pressure on Libya Obama has planned to send secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Europe to discuss what actions  can be taken to stop the violence and also to attend the meeting of the Human Rights council in Geneva.


While Gaddafi said "I shall remain here defiant," said Gaddafi, speaking outside one of his residences, which was heavily damaged in a 1986 U.S. bombing raid that attempted to kill him.
The unrest caused  62 deaths that  were confirmed  in the capital of Tripoli, in addition  to more than 200 (500 deaths as estimated by the opposition) people killed in clashes mostly in the eastern city of Benghazi and Tobruk. All the eastern regions of the country are out of Gaddafi's control.

Airstrikes were conducted on protesters  and on ground security forces attacked them making the protests  more violent. After seeing the brutal crackdown , many countries suspended their diplomatic ties with Libya  and some ambassadors resigned to porotest against the violence. Obama said "These actions violate international norms and every standard of common decency," .
Obama is evaluating all options  to give a good response to the present crisis that will include coordinating with allies and partners.
   

Impact of Libya unrest

US crude oil price crossed $100 a barrel on Wednesday, hitting the triple digits for the first time since October 2008,as turmoil continued to wrack the Middle East .Libya is considered as the 9th largest producer in OPEC and 12th largest in the world  and there are growing fears  that if these disruptions persist longer than it will cause permanent damage to the oil industry in OPEC nations.

The current turmoil in Libya has compelled oil firms  to suspend production and evacuate workers.
While all the countries have started evacuating their citizens after the protests in Libya turned violent.