Paris ( CNN ) -- U.S. , European and Arab leaders delivered a strong warning to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Saturday , saying he must stop attacking his own people or else face international military action . The warning , announced by French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the end of a last-minute meeting in Paris , came as Sarkozy revealed French fighter jets were already flying over rebel-held areas of Libya to protect the population . `` If there is not an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of the forces that have been attacking civilian populations in the last few weeks , our countries will have recourse to military means , '' Sarkozy said , adding that all participants at the meeting endorsed the warning . French planes fired on a Libyan military vehicle Saturday evening , according to the French Defense Ministry . Participants at the meeting in Paris agreed on an urgent need to act . They agreed to use `` all necessary means , in particular , military means '' to enforce a United Nations resolution authorizing the use of force against Libya , Sarkozy said . Gadhafi , however , `` has totally ignored this warning , '' Sarkozy said . Sarkozy called it the `` murderous madness '' of a regime that has `` forfeited all its legitimacy . '' At the same time he spoke , Sarkozy said the French air force is opposing any aggression by Gadhafi 's forces against the population of rebel-held Benghazi . `` As of now , our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town , '' Sarkozy said . `` Other French aircraft are ready to intervene against tanks . '' Sarkozy said enforcing the U.N. no-fly zone through military action is not in order to impose a specific outcome -- such as regime change -- but is instead `` in the name of the universal conscience that will not endorse such crimes . '' U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton echoed that idea , saying the purpose of enforcing the U.N. resolution is `` to protect civilians from their own government . '' Sarkozy said Gadhafi still has a chance to `` avoid the worst '' if he complies `` immediately and unreservedly '' with the demands of the international community . `` The doors of diplomacy will open once again when the aggression stops , '' he said . Sarkozy 's comments came at the end of Saturday 's meeting , which included delegations from the United States , Canada , European Union and Britain , along with Iraq , Morocco , the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations . In a communique , leaders said they have a long-term commitment in the area . `` We assure the Libyan people of our determination to be at their side to help them realize their aspirations and build their future and institutions within a democratic framework , '' the statement said . British Prime Minister David Cameron , who was at the meeting in Paris , said participants decided to make Gadhafi face the consequences of his actions . `` Colonel Gadhafi has made this happen , '' Cameron told the BBC . `` He has lied to the international community . He has promised a cease-fire , he has broken that cease-fire , he continues to brutalize his own people , and so the time for action has come . It needs to be urgent . '' As they met , participants were `` aware of the news reports '' coming out of Libya that show Libyan government forces moving toward Benghazi , a senior U.S. State Department official told reporters . `` Time is pressing , '' Herman Van Rompuy , president of the European Council , told the meeting Saturday . `` Action is needed now to protect the population . '' Clinton said Gadhafi 's forces `` face unambiguous terms '' and that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately . `` That means all attacks against civilians must stop , '' she said after the Paris meeting . `` Troops must stop advancing on Benghazi and pull back from Ajdabiya , Misrata and Zawiya . Water , electricity , and gas supplies must be turned on to all areas . Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya . '' Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi , another participant at the meeting , proposed the use of the NATO base in Naples as a command center for allied action in Libya , a spokesman for the Italian leader said . CNN 's Elise Labott , Jill Dougherty and Hada Messia contributed to this report .
NEW : Leaders say they will be at the side of Libyan citizens . France fires on Libyan military vehicle . International leaders warn Gadhafi to stop attacking his own people . Sarkozy calls it the `` murderous madness '' of the Libyan regime .