The Hill News

On Tuesday, as the president vacationed on Martha's Vineyard, the Obama administration continued to exert pressure on Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to step down from office.

The White House said that President Obama discussed the fluid situation in Libya in a phone conversation with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. According to a readout of the call, Obama and Sarkozy reiterated that Gadhafi should step down and also agreed that both countries would continue to protect Libyan civilians and help in a transition from the Gadhafi regime to a new, democratic government.

Their phone call comes as Libyan rebels took control of Gadhafi's compound in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Libyan rebels have reportedly taken control of the city and are still fighting pockets of pro-Gadhafi forces. Gadhafi remains at large, but the Pentagon says he is probably hiding in Tripoli somewhere.

Obama has been receiving updates on the situation in Libya as w! ell as a daily national security briefing while he and his family vacation on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Earlier on Tuesday the first family went on a bike ride at a park on the island and then went to the beach.