U.S. to use frozen Gadhafi assets for Libyans

ROME (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Obama administration is moving to releasesome of the more than $30 billion it has frozen in Libyan assets to support opponents of Moammar Gadhafi.

A rebel fighter stands guard at a check point in the town of Al-Mekheili on Tuesday.

Speaking Thursday at an international meeting on Libya, Clinton said the administration would ask Congress for legislation that would allow it to tap portions of the money to help the Libyan people. The administration has already authorized up to $25 million in non-lethal military assistance to the opposition and has pledged $53 million in humanitarian aid.

Clinton said it was important to isolate Gadhafi and his regime, including by imposing travel bans on top officials, suspending Libyan embassies and sending envoys to work with the opposition's Transitional National Council.

Clinton said that ousting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is the best way to protect Libya's civilians.

"We have made it abundantly clear that the best way to protect civilians is for Gadhafi to cease his ruthless, brutal attack on civilians from the west to the east, to withdraw from the cities that he is sieging and attacking and to leave power," Clinton said. "This is the outcome we are seeking."

Clinton spoke after holding bilateral talks with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini ahead of a diplomatic meeting on Libya.

The meeting of the Libyan Contact Group at the Italian Foreign Ministry on Thursday is expected to seek ways to give financial support to the rebels, who have indicated they need $1.5 billion in the coming months.

The meeting of 22-nations involved in NATO's Libya campaign also includes the NATO chief, the Arab League, the leader of Libya's opposition council, and the leader of Libya's opposition council, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, who used to be Gadhafi's justice minister.

Clinton said the meeting will seek "the most effective ways to delivery financial assistance" and other support to the rebels.

"Everyone is always impatient. We expect things to be done immediately in our very fast world," Clinton said.

Clinton said she would be formally presenting the United States' pledge to provide $25 million in surplus, nonlethal goods and commodities to support and protect the rebels.

A Libyan rebel spokesman, Mahmoud Shamam, put the estimated amount of money needed by the rebels in coming months at $1.5 billion. This would only be used for medical and food supplies, running hospitals and electricity, Shamam said in Rome.

The rebels also want to press their case for better weapons and equipment, Shamam suggested, saying Wednesday in Rome that they are "hungry for basic arms."

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