Obama Says U.S. Must Be Ready to Act Quickly on Libya

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday the United States and international community must be ready to act rapidly if warranted by a humanitarian crisis or to stop violence against civilians in Libya.

Obama, in remarks at a news conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, said that his administration was preparing a full range of options over Libya in order to avoid his choices from being "hamstrung".

Obama suggested that if a situation existed where Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was "hunkered down" in his capital Tripoli, the United States might have to find a way to get food aid to Libyans.