Obama seeking reform in Libya-Saif Gadhafi also acknowledged changing times need "radical" reforms -bolstering local govt,relaxing restrictive lawsan

Obama seeking reform in Libya, official says

By the CNN Wire Staff

February 21, 2011

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, left, and President Obama meet at the G-8 summit in Italy in 2009.



* American officials are exploring possibilities for reform in Libya

* The Obama administration is stressing the need to avoid violence against protesters

* Gadhafi's son has warned of a possible civil war if protesters do not back down

Washington (CNN) -- U.S. authorities were keeping a close watch on Libya's rapidly unfolding political crisis Monday, in part to see what possibilities might exist for meaningful reform, a senior Obama administration official said.

Among other things, Washington was taking a close look at a speech delivered Sunday by Saif al-Islam Gadhafi -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's son -- which included warnings of a civil war if demonstrations in the North African country don't stop.

In the same speech, Saif Gadhafi also acknowledged changing times regionally and proposed "radical" reforms -- like bolstering local governments, relaxing restrictive laws, raising salaries, extending loans, and drafting a constitution, which doesn't now exist.

Obama officials continued to discuss with their Libyan counterparts the need to avoid violence against peaceful protesters, the official added.

President Barack Obama was briefed on the situation in Libya by his national security adviser, Tom Donilon, on Sunday night, the official also said.

Despite the warning from Gadhafi's son, Libya's protesters are showing no sign of an intention to back down. After Gadhafi's government apparently lost control of the city of Benghazi, some angry protesters in Tripoli said they hoped for a similar turn of events in the nation's capital.

Tripoli residents said state-run al-Shababiya TV was attacked Sunday evening by anti-government protesters. CNN, however, could not immediately confirm reports. The Libyan government maintains tight control on communications and has not responded to repeated requests from CNN for access to the country.

CNN has interviewed numerous witnesses by phone.

The current unrest, spurred largely by demands for freedom and angst over high unemployment, has left at least 233 people dead in Libya, according to Human Rights Watch, citing information from hospital sources.

CNN's Alan Silverleib and Jill Dougherty contributed to this report