Obama Urges Mideast Governments to Show Restraint

U.S. President Barack Obama says he is deeply concerned about reports of violence in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen.

A White House spokesman read a statement Friday from the president saying the United States "condemns the use of violence by governments against peaceful protesters."

Mr. Obama urged the governments of Bahrain, Libya and Yemen to show restraint, and to respect the rights of their people.

The president's statement follows reports that security forces opened fire on protesters in the three countries over the past days.

The White House says Mr. Obama is receiving daily updates on the anti-government protests that have spread across the Arab world, and brought down the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt.