Clinton: Gadaffi must retreat

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the world is waiting to see whether Muammar Gaddafi’s forces begin to retreat from opposition-controlled areas in east Libya.

Clinton told reporters in Washington that the US is not impressed by the Libyan government’s claim of a ceasefire, saying “we would have to see action on the ground – and that is not yet at all clear”.

She said that the first goal of international action is to end the violence in Libya.

She said: “We have to see a very clear set of decisions” by Gaddafi’s forces.

That means forces must pull “a significant distance away from the east.”

That is where Gaddafi’s forces are fighting rebels seeking to overthrow him.

A UN Security Council resolution has backed “all necessary measures” short of occupation to protect civilians in the country.