Clinton's surprise visit to Libya, heavy fighting continued in Sirte

Tripoli, Libya • U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today in Tripoli promised U.S. support to the Libyan authorities, while the transitional prime minister said he was sure that Muammar Gaddafi plans to seize power with the support of the Tuaregs in the south.Clinton is the primary responsibility of this level in U.S. travel to Libya since 2008. So Washington was trying to establish new relationships with the now deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi."America is proud to have been at his side in your struggle for freedom and will continue if they continue this journey, respecting and honoring your sovereignty our friendship," Clinton said.Secretary of State said he was aware that "the bloody fighting continues," adding that "NATO and the international coalition will continue to protect Libyan civilians until the threat (represented by Muammar) Gaddafi comes to an end . ""One of the elements to be solved is the unification of the various militias into one army to represent the Libyan people," Clinton said when asked about the risks of civil war in Libya, where tensions emerged between the different brigades liberated the country.During this brief visit surrounded by tight security, Secretary of State met with the president of the National Transitional Council (CNT, former insurgents), Mustafa Abdeljalil, Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, as well as Tarhuni Ali, Minister of Finance and Petroleum.Your visit to this oil rich country of northern Africa takes place after the visits of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Ministers David Cameron and Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as several British ministers, Italians and Canadians.Meanwhile Mahmoud Jibril said in an interview with the Saudi capital, Ashraq al Awsat, Colonel Gaddafi, on the run since the fall of his headquarters in Tripoli on August 23, plans to regain power with the help of Tuaregs.

"I firmly believe (Gaddafi) tries to return to power with the help of the Tuareg tribes in northern Niger, southern Libya and southern Algeria and Mali," said Jibril.On the ground, in front of Sirte, 360 km east of Tripoli, the fighting became increasingly intense in the morning. CNT forces tried to seize two districts still held by Colonel Gaddafi loyalists.The aim of the CNT is to proclaim the fall of that city and therefore the "total liberation" of Libya. CNT fighters on the edge of the Barrios "Dollar" and "No. 2" which are entrenched supporters of Gaddafi, bombarded the area with heavy weapons, while others engaged in street fighting.In the eastern front, the forces of CNT reported at least eleven people, including Dardef ben Mustafa, a businessman from Benghazi become a popular anti gadafista commander. Two other deaths occurred in the field hospital of the west front. In total, more than a hundred wounded CNT fighters on both fronts.A 170 km southeast of Tripoli, the flag of the new Libyan authorities floated in the deserted streets of Bani Walid, who on Monday fell to the forces of CNT after more than a month of siege.The troops of an important brigade participated in the liberation of Bani Walid was preparing to travel to Sirte to assist in the capture of the city, said Yunes Musa, chief of the forces of CNT in this city.In this context NATO, March 31 took command of the international coalition in Libya, said she is not ready to announce the end of their mission.