President Obama warned Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi on Friday to “fully comply” with a new United Nations resolution that calls for him to cease fire against rebels or face consequences from the international community, including military action.

Obama’s warning was his first comments about the crisis in Libya since the U.N. Security Council voted late Thursday to authorize a no-fly zone and “all necessary measures” to protect the Libyan people from Qaddafi’s bloody crackdown on rebels.

Obama said Qaddafi must implement a cease-fire, stop his troops from advancing on rebel strongholds and allow humanitarian assistance to reach Libya.

“Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable,” he said in a brief appearance at the White House. “If he does not comply, the international community will impose consequences.”

But Obama said that while the U.S. will help impose the no-fly zone, he would not be sending U.S. ground troops.

“We will not go beyond helping the Libyan people,” he said, adding that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would travel to Paris on Saturday to join in a meeting of allies called to discuss the next steps in Libya.

Just hours after the U.N. vote, Libya declared an immediate cease-fire Friday and stopped all military operations.

But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the Qaddafi regime would have to back up its declaration of a cease-fire with action.

“We are going to be not responsive or impressed by words, we have to see actions on the ground and that is not yet at all clear,” Clinton said. “We will continue to work with our partners in the international community to press Qaddafi to leave and to support the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people.”

Clinton said the goal remains to get rid of Qaddafi.

“Col. Qaddafi’s refusal to hear the repeated calls up until now to halt the violence against his own people has left us with no other choice but to pursue this course of action,” she said.

The Obama administration has been facing mounting questions and criticism about its handling of the Libyan crisis, and Qaddafi’s almost immediate declaration of a cease-fire following the U.N. authorization is almost certain to raise further questions about the White House’s lack of leadership.

Obama met with congressional leaders from both parties on Libya before he made his statement.

The U.S. backing for international action comes after several administration officials questioned the plan for providing aerial cover, with the Pentagon perhaps the most vociferous in its skepticism. It has described the no-fly zone as a step tantamount to war, and a number of U.S. officials have expressed fears that involvement in Libya could further strain America’s already stretched military and entangle the country in an expensive and messy conflict in another Muslim country.

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