US pledges millions in Libya aid
Source: Agencies |
October 19, 2011, Wednesday
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THE United States yesterday increased support for Libya's new leaders as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a surprise visit to Tripoli and pledged millions of dollars in new aid.
The pledge included medical care for wounded fighters and additional assistance to secure weaponry many fear could fall into the hands of terrorists.
US officials said the fresh aid Clinton is bringing totals about US$11 million and will boost Washington's contribution to Libya since the uprising against Moammar Gadhafi began in February to roughly US$135 million.
The officials said it is evidence of the administration's commitment to working with the National Transitional Council as it consolidates control over the entire country and moves to hold elections.
Clinton yesterday met Mahmoud -Jibril, who has taken over as Libya's prime minister, and interim leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil.
As part of the new aid package, the US will relaunch several educational programs, including Fulbright scholarships and English language training, and help fund an archeological project in eastern Libya, officials said.
In addition, they said Clinton will be stressing the importance of good governance, inclusion, democratization and diversifying Libya's economy so it no longer depends almost entirely on oil.
Officials said Clinton would also raise the case of the Lockerbie bombing with Libyan officials. Last month, Scotland asked Libya's new authorities to help track down those responsible for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town. It killed 270 people, most of them American.
The only person charged with the bombing - former Libyan intelligence officer Abdel Baset al-Megrahi - was freed on compassionate grounds in 2009 because of illness. His release infuriated the families of many Lockerbie victims.
Clinton's public events in Tripoli included meetings with civic leaders that have been kept secret for security reasons.
Most of the new money will go toward finding and destroying thousands of Gadhafi-era shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles that are unaccounted for since the fighting began. Clinton and other senior US officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of dealing with stockpiles of Libyan weapons.
The US State Department has sent 14 weapons experts to Libya and is looking for other countries to contribute to the effort.
The pledge included medical care for wounded fighters and additional assistance to secure weaponry many fear could fall into the hands of terrorists.
US officials said the fresh aid Clinton is bringing totals about US$11 million and will boost Washington's contribution to Libya since the uprising against Moammar Gadhafi began in February to roughly US$135 million.
The officials said it is evidence of the administration's commitment to working with the National Transitional Council as it consolidates control over the entire country and moves to hold elections.
Clinton yesterday met Mahmoud -Jibril, who has taken over as Libya's prime minister, and interim leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil.
As part of the new aid package, the US will relaunch several educational programs, including Fulbright scholarships and English language training, and help fund an archeological project in eastern Libya, officials said.
In addition, they said Clinton will be stressing the importance of good governance, inclusion, democratization and diversifying Libya's economy so it no longer depends almost entirely on oil.
Officials said Clinton would also raise the case of the Lockerbie bombing with Libyan officials. Last month, Scotland asked Libya's new authorities to help track down those responsible for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town. It killed 270 people, most of them American.
The only person charged with the bombing - former Libyan intelligence officer Abdel Baset al-Megrahi - was freed on compassionate grounds in 2009 because of illness. His release infuriated the families of many Lockerbie victims.
Clinton's public events in Tripoli included meetings with civic leaders that have been kept secret for security reasons.
Most of the new money will go toward finding and destroying thousands of Gadhafi-era shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles that are unaccounted for since the fighting began. Clinton and other senior US officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of dealing with stockpiles of Libyan weapons.
The US State Department has sent 14 weapons experts to Libya and is looking for other countries to contribute to the effort.
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