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| Libya: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Tripoli | Libya: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Tripoli |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Libya on an unannounced visit aimed at showing support for the Libyan people and building ties. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Libya on an unannounced visit aimed at showing support for the Libyan people and building ties. |
| Mrs Clinton is expected to be in the capital, Tripoli, for only a few hours. She is the first US cabinet-level official to visit the country. | Mrs Clinton is expected to be in the capital, Tripoli, for only a few hours. She is the first US cabinet-level official to visit the country. |
| Her visit was kept secret due safety concerns and heavy security measures were in place ahead of her arrival. | Her visit was kept secret due safety concerns and heavy security measures were in place ahead of her arrival. |
| Her trip follows visits to Libya by the British and French leaders. | Her trip follows visits to Libya by the British and French leaders. |
| Mrs Clinton will holds talks with top officials from the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) - Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril and Finance Minister Ali Tarhouni. | Mrs Clinton will holds talks with top officials from the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) - Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril and Finance Minister Ali Tarhouni. |
| She will also hold a town hall meeting with women, young people and civil society leaders. | She will also hold a town hall meeting with women, young people and civil society leaders. |
| US officials say the visit is meant to show support for the NTC and the Libyan people, but also to start building a solid relationship with Libya. | US officials say the visit is meant to show support for the NTC and the Libyan people, but also to start building a solid relationship with Libya. |
| The Turks, the French, the British have all been to Tripoli already but visits by an American secretary of state requires that much more preparation and security, if only because of the size of the entourage. | The Turks, the French, the British have all been to Tripoli already but visits by an American secretary of state requires that much more preparation and security, if only because of the size of the entourage. |
| Mrs Clinton also wanted to make sure there was something specific on the agenda of talks, beyond congratulations for the end of Gaddafi's rule. So she's come here with a set of specific offers of technical assistance. | Mrs Clinton also wanted to make sure there was something specific on the agenda of talks, beyond congratulations for the end of Gaddafi's rule. So she's come here with a set of specific offers of technical assistance. |
| Oil rich Libya has its own billions of dollars but lacks expertise in key areas. Clinton's predecessor Condoleezza Rice visited Libya in 2008, a few years after the US removed Libya from the US list of state sponsor of terror and re-established diplomatic ties with Tripoli. | Oil rich Libya has its own billions of dollars but lacks expertise in key areas. Clinton's predecessor Condoleezza Rice visited Libya in 2008, a few years after the US removed Libya from the US list of state sponsor of terror and re-established diplomatic ties with Tripoli. |
| Washington at the time had hope for better relations with Libya but it never really panned out. Now Washington sees a new opportunity to expand ties, including trade, with Libya but also across North Africa. | Washington at the time had hope for better relations with Libya but it never really panned out. Now Washington sees a new opportunity to expand ties, including trade, with Libya but also across North Africa. |
| Earlier on Tuesday there were reports of fierce fighting around the city of Sirte, Col Gaddafi's hometown and where loyalists are still resisting forces loyal to the NTC. | Earlier on Tuesday there were reports of fierce fighting around the city of Sirte, Col Gaddafi's hometown and where loyalists are still resisting forces loyal to the NTC. |
| About 1,000 Libyan fighters launched a major assault from the east of the city, the Associated Press reported. | About 1,000 Libyan fighters launched a major assault from the east of the city, the Associated Press reported. |
| Malta visit | Malta visit |
| Mrs Clinton flew in to Tripoli from Malta. There she met Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to discuss the situation in Libya and thank the Maltese authorities for their assistance during the crisis in the north African country. | Mrs Clinton flew in to Tripoli from Malta. There she met Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to discuss the situation in Libya and thank the Maltese authorities for their assistance during the crisis in the north African country. |
| The island has been a centre for humanitarian aid efforts and the evacuation of workers from Libya. | The island has been a centre for humanitarian aid efforts and the evacuation of workers from Libya. |
| Mrs Clinton is the most senior US administration official to visit the island since her predecessor Condoleezza Rice in 2008. President George Bush Sr and Secretary of State James Baker came in 1989 for a summit with then-Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. |