18/10/2011 17:41
Hillary Clinton made an unannounced visit to Tripoli
The Obama administration on Tuesday increased U.S. support for Libya's new leaders, as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made an unannounced visit to Tripoli and pledged millions of dollars in new aid, including medical care for wounded fighters and additional assistance to secure weaponry that many fear could fall into the hands of terrorists.
Secretary Clinton arrived in Tripoli amid heavy security, and security is one of the focuses of her trip here - specifically about 10,000 shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles that are missing from Muammar Qaddafi's arsenal. Part of the $135 million in aid that the U.S. has pledged to Libya's new leadership will go to search for and dismantle those weapons.
The State Department already has sent 14 weapons experts to Libya and is looking for other countries to contribute to the effort. The new U.S. contribution of some $10 million means Washington will have spent $40 million on the effort alone since the former rebels began making major military progress, according to the officials.