Clinton offers 'any kind of assistance' to Libyans

Editor’s Note: Sorry the dictator that we supported for two decades didn’t work out. We’re happy to help replace him, just keep your oil flowing to our corporations.

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States is prepared to offer “any kind of assistance” to Libyans seeking to overthrow the regime of strongman Moamer Kadhafi, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday.

The top US diplomat spoke as she prepared to leave Washington for a ministerial-level meeting of the UN High Commission on Human Rights on Monday, and for bilateral talks with many of her counterparts about the crisis in Libya.

“I think it is way to soon to tell how this is going to play out we are going to be ready and prepared to offer any kind of assistance that anyone wishes to have from the US,” Clinton told reporters.

She also called on the Libyan regime to “call off the mercenaries,” referring to the government-hired troops said to be mowing down Libyans by the hundreds in a bid to prop up the government.

“We are just at the beginning of what will follow Kadhafi,” Clinton said.

“First we have to see the end of his regime and with no further bloodshed,” she continued, noting Washington is eager for his ouster “as soon as possible.”

“We want him to leave.”

Clinton’s remarks came a day after US President Barack Obama called on embattled Kadhafi to “leave now,” as his country teetered on civil war, saying the Libyan leader had lost his right to rule after attacking his own people to put down a popular uprising.