Clinton offers aid package to Libya

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has congratulated the Libyan people on the collapse of the government of Muammar al-Qadhafi. She also has offered an aid package to the interim authority.

Clinton made an unannounced visit to the Libyan capital Tripoli on Tuesday to meet the Chairman of the National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil.

After the meeting, she told reporters that the US government will offer an aid package of about 11 million dollars.

The aid money will be used to treat wounded soldiers from the civil war and to fund the search for looted portable anti-aircraft missiles.

The National Transitional Council, or NTC, said on Monday that it had secured control of the central parts of Sirte and Bani Walid, the last bastions held by Qadhafi loyalists.

But the whereabouts of Qadhafi remain unknown.
Tribal and sectarian conflicts have been causing a delay in forming a provisional government.

Clinton apparently wanted to show that the US government fully supports the new Libya and to encourage Libyans to inaugurate a new administration as soon as possible.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 07:12 +0900 (JST)