WASHINGTON — The White House today urged governments in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain to cease attacks on protesters, while saying fighting in those countries has not risen to the same level as in Libya, where United States forces are engaged in military action to stop violence perpetrated by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the decision to intervene in Libya was based not only on the violence that had already occurred there, “but also what was about to occur and the promises made by Gadhafi himself.”
Carney said President Barack Obama would offer a clear explanation of how he reached the decision to take military action in Libya in the very near future, though he wouldn’t say exactly when such remarks would occur.
The pro-democracy protests that started in Tunisia and Egypt in January have spread throughout the Middle East. The United States has taken a similar position in almost all of the uprisings, urging leaders to engage in political dialogue and calling for all sides to refrain from violence.
Carney made a similar appeal to Middle East leaders today.
“The stability and future of this region depends upon the decision by governments to listen to their people, to act on their legitimate aspirations and to open up their systems so that the people of these countries can have a greater stake in the future of their country and their own futures,” he said. (AP)
