BBC News with Julie Candler

President Obama says the US and its Nato allies are still considering a military response to the situation in Libya where he said the people were facing unacceptable violence. But Russia says it's opposed to any military

intervention

. Nato is

engaged in

what its Secretary General called '

prudent

planning'. While Britain confirmed it was working to secure a Security Council no-fly zone resolution. More from Kim Ghattas in Washington.

President Barack Obama twice used the word 'potential' when talking about military options. It’s clear Washington is not keen on the idea of a no-fly zone, but there is increasing talk of one. And in the end, it’s likely the United States will

go along with

it if there is clear international

consensus

and a UN security resolution. The White House has also made clear nothing had been taken off the table, including the possibility of arming the rebels in Libya.

Libyan rebel forces in the oil town of Las Ranuf have lost territory to forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi after a day of sustained attacks by land and air. A series of air strikes targeted the town and reports say at least 20 people were killed. John Simpson is in the town.

For a time, it looked as though a quick attack by Colonel Gaddafi's men would clear the rebels out of Las Ranuf, but there was no sign of any movement from the Gaddafi forces. Instead, a Russian-built fighter bomber from Colonel Gaddafi’s air force came over and bombed the crossroads where the rebels had set up their guns. The bomb missed, but more rebels headed back down the road after that. Eventually though,