WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday condemned the use of violence against peaceful protesters in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen and called for universal rights of expression to be respected.

Obama expressed his concern in a statement read to reporters aboard Air Force One by his spokesman Jay Carney, who said the president was getting frequent briefings on Middle East violence from national security aides.

"I am deeply concerned by reports of violence in Bahrain, Libya and Yemen," Obama said in the statement.

"The United States condemns the use of violence by governments against peaceful protesters in those countries and wherever it may occur."