US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Libya's capital city, Tripoli for the first upper level meeting in that country since the end of Moammar Gadhafi's rule. That government ended at the end of summer after forty two years in power. Gadhafi, his son, a brother in law and the intelligence chief, Abdullah al Sanussi are all wanted by the international community, including the UN Security Council for multiple charges of war crimes. Gadhafi has not been seen for months and is rumored to be in another country rather than in hiding in Libya.

Tight security was in place when Clinton landed in Libya because skirmishes are still being fought between the transitional government troops and those that remain loyal to Gadhafi. On the agenda, a town hall style meeting and then to a local hospital where she met with several wounded soldiers, some that are in need of transport to other countries for surgery. Currently, red tape is keeping those injured people from getting the care that they need. Clinton assured them that she would make efforts to help them if possible. Before leaving Libya, Clinton met with the interim Prime Minister to discuss moves that are important steps in that country's rebirth, including a change in their economic methods. Clinton stated that the US intends to celebrate and support Libya's move to democracy and the aspirations of the people of that nation, but also included her hope that women would be gien equal rights in the new Libya.

Other topics were the destruction of MANPADs still in possession of the Libyans. These weapons are shoulder launched surface to air missles, very portable and very deadly.

Clinton returned to the military plane and was taken to Malta for a brief lay over where she met with some of the embassy officials there. After leaving Malta, she was heading to Oman.

Interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril told Clinton that the National Transitional Council appreciates the help it has been getting from the United States and recognized a number of the problems that are facing the new nation, including the change in the way its economy is run as well as a reuniting of the security forces, both military and civilian. The fighting has to be ended before those two groups can be brought back to one unit. Fighting in Sirte was still ongoing, with allegations of looting by the NTC fighters being leveled by returning residents there.

Jibril has told reporters that he has no intention of carrying on in his current position once elections are held, and that he has no political aspirations at all.