SOS Clinton to meet Libyan rebels (During trip to Egypt and Tunisia next week)

Source: Al Jazeera English

US secretary of state says she will meet representatives of opposition council, as France, UK call for Gaddafi exit.
Last Modified: 10 Mar 2011 21:09 GMT

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, is to meet with leaders of Libya's opposition council during a trip to the Middle East next week, she has told US lawmakers.

Clinton's statement of intent comes as France on Thursday became the first major European country to recognise Libya's opposition National Council based in Benghazi as the country's legitimate representative. In a separate joint statement with the United Kingdom, France also called for the Gaddafi "clique" to leave office.

"We are reaching out to the opposition inside and outside of Libya," Clinton said while announcing her trip to Tunisia and Egypt.

"I will be meeting with some of those figures, both in the United States and when I travel next week, to discuss what more the United States and others can do," she said.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/03/2011310101413705407.html

---

Includes video report of France's recognition of the 'rebels' as "the legitimate representation of the libyan people".

Related OP: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4763552">France Becomes First Country to Recognize Libyan Rebels

Secretary of State will visit Egypt and Tunisia to push democracy, will also meet Libya's opposition leaders
BY MATTHEW LEE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

THURSDAY, MAR 10, 2011 16:59 ET

The Obama administration is steering away from unilateral military action against Moammar Gadhafi's regime, warning that a go-it-alone approach could have unforeseeable and devastating consequences.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told a congressional panel that international authorization is critical for any U.S. military pressure on Gadhafi to leave power.

She spoke as the U.S. and its allies discussed a possible no-fly zone over Libya and other options.

Clinton noted Thursday that no-fly zones had limited effect against Slobodan Milosevic during the Balkan wars and on Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Full article: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2011/03/10/clinton_visits_middle_east