Call for peace

WASHINGTON - The US has strongly condemned the use of force in Libya and called on Tripoli to allow peaceful protests after "credible reports" of casualties in a government crackdown.

"The US is gravely concerned with disturbing reports and images coming out of Libya," said a written statement from State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.

Britain summoned on Monday the Libyan ambassador to London and called for those behind a deadly crackdown to be held accountable, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.