Obama says coalition prepared to act in Libya

With American military forces poised for action, President Barack Obama said Saturday that the U.S. and its allies are prepared to act with urgency to end violence against civilians in Libya.

The president spoke as French warplanes began the first sorties to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, where Moammar Gadhafi's bloody attacks on rebels continued.

"Our consensus was strong, and our resolve is clear. The people of Libya must be protected, and in the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians our coalition is prepared to act, and to act with urgency," Obama said in Brazil, on the first day of a three-country Latin American tour.

Just before he spoke, top officials from the United States, Europe and the Arab world meeting in Paris announced immediate military action to protect civilians amid combat between Gadhafi's forces and rebel fighters. French warplanes were targeting Gadhafi's forces. American ships and aircraft were poised for action but weren't participating in the initial French air missions.