Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama spoke Thursday with the leaders of France , Italy and the United Kingdom on coordinating an international response to the crisis in Libya , the White House said . In separate phone conversations with French President Nicolas Sarkozy , Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British Prime Minister David Cameron , Obama `` expressed his deep concern with the Libyan government 's use of violence which violates international norms and every standard of human decency , and discussed appropriate and effective ways for the international community to immediately respond , '' the White House statement said . While some critics say the Obama administration has been slow to react to the deteriorating situation in Libya , the statement said Thursday 's discussions were to `` coordinate our urgent efforts to respond to developments and ensure that there is appropriate accountability . '' `` The leaders discussed the range of options that both the United States and European countries are preparing to hold the Libyan government accountable for its actions , as well as planning for humanitarian assistance , '' the White House statement said . U.S. officials have said all options were under consideration , including sanctions and enforcement of a no-fly zone , to try to stop the Libyan government from attacking protesters . A statement by the French Embassy said Obama discussed steps the United States plans to take regarding Libya in his phone call with Sarkozy . `` President Sarkozy presented the measures currently being examined by the European Union at his behest , and which he hopes will be swiftly adopted , '' the statement said . `` President Obama presented the measures that the United States plans on taking . '' Earlier Thursday , White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters that a range of options were being discussed , but he refused to provide details or specify those receiving the most consideration . Carney said the goals of any U.S. response were to protect American citizens in Libya and compel the Libyan government to stop attacking its own people . `` What we have said is we 're not going to specify which options are on or off the table . We 're discussing a full range of options , '' Carney told reporters , adding that it was likely any action would be in concert with the international community . `` We 're interested in outcomes , '' Carney said . `` We 're interested in taking measures that will actually have the desired effect , which is getting the Libyan government to stop '' killing its own people . On Wednesday , Obama strongly condemned the use of violence on protesters in Libya and said a unified international response was forming . `` The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous , and it is unacceptable , '' Obama said in his strongest and most direct statements to date on the unrest in Libya . `` So are threats and orders to shoot peaceful protesters and further punish the people of Libya . These actions violate international norms and every standard of common decency . This violence must stop . '' Flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , Obama said Libya 's government `` must be held accountable '' for its failure to meet its responsibilities , and he emphasized a growing international chorus of condemnation against the situation . Clinton will travel to Geneva , Switzerland , on Monday to join a Human Rights Council meeting . The group , part of the United Nations , is negotiating a resolution on Libya , according to European diplomats who spoke to CNN . Among the elements under consideration for the resolution are a call on Libya to protect its citizens , condemnation of the violence and a demand for an international inquiry and access for humanitarian groups . The president 's public statement before television cameras Wednesday was considered part of an administration effort to counter impressions of inaction and presidential silence involving Libya , with U.S. officials saying the government is considering a range of options to pressure Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi . Meanwhile , the United States has been struggling to evacuate its own citizens from the country . On Tuesday , the Libyan government refused permission for a U.S. charter to land in Tripoli . A chartered ferry with 285 people aboard , including 40 nonessential U.S. Embassy employees and family members , 127 American citizens and 118 citizens of other countries , was docked in Tripoli awaiting a break in the weather to travel to Malta , State Department spokesman P.J . Crowley said Thursday . CNN 's Tom Cohen contributed to this report .
NEW : The White House says the leaders discussed a coordinated response . The French Embassy says Obama discussed planned measures . 11:35 U.S. goals are to protect Americans and halt attacks on Libyan people .