Clinton to Libya: 'Now is the time to stop this unacceptable bloodshed'

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the violence in Libya on Monday amid reports that dictator Moammar Gadhafi had fled the country.

Soon after, Gadhafi appeared on state TV to say that he hadn't gone anywhere. "Don't believe those misleading dog stations," he said.

"The world is watching the situation in Libya with alarm," Clinton said in a statement. "We join the international community in strongly condemning the violence in Libya. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been lost, and with their loved ones."

Human-rights groups have reported hundreds of Libyans being killed by snipers, artillery, helicopter gunships, hammers and swords being used against peaceful demonstrators, as well as tanks crushing protesters and women and children dying by jumping into a Benghazi river in an effort to escape the onslaught.

"The government of Libya has a responsibility to respect the universal rights of the people, including the right to free expression and assembly," Clinton said. "Now is the time to stop this unacceptable bloodshed. We are working urgently with friends and partners around the world to convey this message to the Libyan government."

The White House said earlier that it was weighing an "appropriate" response to the violence directed at pro-democracy demonstrations in Libya, and studying for signs of "meaningful reform" the rambling Sunday night TV address of Gadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam, who vowed that his family "will fight to the last minute, until the last bullet."

President Obama was reportedly briefed on the situation Sunday night by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon. He has not yet spoken on the crisis.

U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice did not directly answer a question on Sunday morning's "Meet the Press" about whether Gadhafi is killing protesters.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday that Gadhafi had fled Libya and that he has seen "information" suggesting the dictator is on his way to Venezuela.

"I hope the people will run him out of Libya," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a home-state TV interview on Monday.

—This post was updated at 10 p.m.