NATO starts 24/7 surveillance of Libya.

NATO has launched around-the-clock surveillance flights of Libya as it considers various options for dealing with escalating violence in the war-torn country, America's ambassador to the organization told reporters Monday.

Representatives of key Western powers also highlighted the possibility of establishing a no-fly zone in Libya -- part of growing campaign to break strongman Moammar Gadhafi's grip on power.

British, French and U.S. officials were working on a draft text that includes language on a no-fly zone, diplomatic sources at the United Nations told CNN.

The language in the text will deal with triggers rather than timelines for taking such a step, one diplomat noted. If gross violations of human rights are committed, the diplomat added, the elements of the text could be quickly turned into a resolution.

Any resolution on military intervention in Libya, however, would be subject to a vote by the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council. Such intervention could face sharp criticism from Russia and China, who rarely approve of such measures.

"The violence that's been taking place and perpetrated by the government in Libya is unacceptable," U.S. President Barack Obama said at the White House. Moammar Gadhafi's government "will be held accountable for whatever violence continues to take place there."

Obama stressed that NATO is considering a wide range of responses -- including military options -- for dealing with the crisis.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney later cited three potential responses under active consideration: establishing the no-fly zone, military-backed humanitarian aid, and stronger enforcement of the U.N. arms embargo.

Carney downplayed speculation about the possibility of providing arms to the Libyan rebels, telling reporters that "it would be premature to send a bunch of weapons to a post office box in eastern Libya."

"We need to not get ahead of ourselves in terms of the options we're pursuing," he warned.

A senior U.S. official familiar with the administration's deliberations on Libya denied a report in the British press that the administration had asked Saudi Arabia to arm the rebels.

U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague told members of the British parliament, however, that "we are making contingency plans for all eventualities in Libya."

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters in Belgium that the organization has no immediate intention to intervene in the Libyan civil war. But "as a defense alliance and a security organization, it is our job to conduct prudent planning for any eventuality," he said.

Rasmussen stressed that it is important to "remain vigilant" in light of "systemic attacks" by Gadhafi's regime against the Libyan population. "The violation of human rights and international humanitarian law is outrageous," he said.

Rasmussen also noted that the defense ministers from member states will meet Friday and Saturday to discuss how the organization can help partner countries in North Africa and the broader Middle East.

"We can see a strong wind of change blowing across the region -- and it is blowing in the direction of freedom and democracy," he asserted.

Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kasa lashed out the Western leaders, calling their response part of "a conspiracy to divide (and) partition the country."

"The English are yearning for the colonial era" while Obama is acting "like a child," he said. "Territorial integrity is sacrosanct and we will die for it."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, appointed a new special envoy to Libya to discuss the crisis with officials in Tripoli, the United Nations said in a statement Monday.

Abdelilah Al-Khatib, a former foreign minister of Jordan, will "undertake urgent consultations with the authorities in Tripoli and in the region on the immediate humanitarian situation as well as the wider dimensions of the crisis," according to the statement.

As diplomats debated various options, the violence in Libya continued to intensify. Forces loyal to Gadhafi took aim at the rebel-controlled town of Ras Lanuf, launching aerial strikes meant to help crush the uprising against him.

Death toll estimates from the conflict have reached as high as 2,000 people. Roughly 200,000 people have fled Libya, with nearly equal numbers going to Tunisia and Egypt, according to the United Nations.

White House Cost of Gas Not Only Factor in Deciding Whether to Tap Oil Reserve.

The White House said Monday that officials are still considering whether to tap into the strategic oil reserve but stressed that any decision would not be based solely on the price of gas.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said other factors, like whether there's a "major disruption in the flow of oil," will have to be considered.

"It's an option we are considering. But there are a number of factors that go into it, and it is not price-based alone," Carney said. "I wouldn't look to a price threshold."

Lawmakers, though, are no doubt eyeing the $4-a-gallon mark as they call on the administration to take action. Pressure to tap into the strategic petroleum reserve has come mostly from Democrats, while congressional Republicans instead call on Obama to permit more domestic oil drilling.

The average price of a gallon of gas has tracked steadily toward that $4 threshold over the past several weeks as turmoil engulfs the Middle East. As of Monday, the average price of a gallon of regular gas was $3.51, about 40 cents higher than a month ago.

However, the actual price of a gallon of gas -- without state and federal taxes -- is considerably lower, since those taxes add an average of more than 40 cents to every gallon.

Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, estimated the average price of gas without those taxes is just above $3-a-gallon. Still, he said prices are on track to hit record levels. The record was set on July 17, 2008, when prices hit $3.62 a gallon, pre-tax.

"It's certainly starting out as one of the biggest price increases that we've seen," he said. "There have been larger increases, but the thing is, we're just getting started."

The current price is already above other high points of the last decade. Adjusted for inflation and without taxes, the average national gas price on Sept. 4, 2005 -- after Hurricane Katrina -- was $2.72 a gallon. On May 24, 2007, it was $2.81 a gallon.

"The prices will go up over the course of March, April, and May. Talk to me in two months and this very well could be the largest price increase of all time," Toews said.

Responding to public concern about the rise in prices, White House Chief of Staff William Daley said Sunday the administration is considering all options, including tapping into the reserve.

But Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, suggested the White House is not looking at longer-term solutions. He called for an "all-of-the-above energy strategy" that includes more domestic energy production.

"As the price of gas continues to rise, the White House is considering a short-term response and ignoring the implications of its failed energy policies," he said Monday. "The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created to offer relief should there be a temporary disruption in the supply of crude oil, like a devastating hurricane or a blockade of oil imports. It was not intended to be a tool to manipulate the market or provide political relief."

Two U.S. Soldiers Reportedly Killed in Shooting at Germany's Frankfurt Airport.

Two U.S. soldiers were killed in a shooting at Germany's Frankfurt airport, according to Sky News. Two other people were reportedly injured.

A man reportedly opened fire on a bus carrying U.S. soldiers.

The BBC is reporting that police arrested a 21-year-old suspect from Kosovo.

An airport spokesman Wednesday's shooting took place in front of Terminal 2 of what is continental Europe's second-biggest hub. He declined to be named in line with policy.

There was no immediate information on their identity or further casualties.

The U.S. Army Europe said it had no immediate information on the incident but was looking into it.