US PRESIDENT BARACK Obama has given an ultimatum to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi – warning him that he must comply with the UN’s demands for a complete ceasefire or face military action.

Obama said that the demand of the UN Security Council for an immediate ceasefire was non-negotiable, reports the Telegraph. “If he does not comply, the international community will impose consequences,” said Obama. “The resolution will be enforced by military action.”

However, Obama also made it clear that the US would not “use force to go beyond a well-defined goal” by deploying ground troops into Libya. He stressed that the only aim was to protect the people of Libya, reports the BBC.

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa announced earlier today that there would be an immediate ceasefire in response to the  Security Council’s resolution, however the statement is being coolly accepted by the international community. The British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he would judge Gaddafi “by his actions not his words”.

Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that France was ready to launch strikes if Libya did not comply with the resolution.