U.S. Will Consider ‘All Options’ on Libya, Clinton Says

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Americans to leave Libya immediately and said the U.S. will examine “all possible options” to respond to the violence of the Gadhafi regime.

“Everything will be on the table,” Clinton told reporters at a joint news conference today at the State Department in Washington with Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota.

Before taking punitive measures such as economic sanctions, Clinton said, the United States wants to consult with other countries to better evaluate a “fluid” and “uncertain” situation in Libya.

“First, we have to get the international community together,” Clinton said.

She urged Americans in Libya “to depart immediately” and to contact the U.S. embassy for assistance if needed.

Patriota said, “Brazil is very concerned with the situation in Libya.” Some Brazilians are in the North African country doing work to enlarge the airport in Tripoli, the capital, he said.

A U.S.-chartered ferry was prepared to take U.S. citizens from the Libyan capital to the island of Malta. It was not clear when the ferry would depart.