Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A team of British officials is in face-to-face contact with rebel forces on the ground in Libya for the first time, as foreign ministers from more than 40 countries gather in London for a conference on the country's future.
The meeting will include Arab and North African nations including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Tunisia. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, will also attend.
Officials hope the summit will endorse plans to set up a smaller "contact group" to lead the international community's negotiations with the Libyan rebels, alongside an announcement on humanitarian aid. Yesterday, David Cameron said British officials were liaising with rebel ground forces in eastern Libya. "We are actually now in proper contact with the rebels and a Foreign Office official is now having proper discussions with them, which I think is vital as we need to get to know and work with them and make these points with them," the Prime Minister told the Commons.
The team has been in Benghazi for several days and has held talks with the Interim National Transitional Council (INTC), which was set up in the city earlier this month. Yesterday, the INTC was endorsed by Mr Cameron for the first time. In a joint statement with the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, he said: "We call on all Libyans who believe that Gaddafi is leading Libya into a disaster to take the initiative now to organise a transition process. In our view, this could include the Interim National Transitional Council, the pioneering role of which we recognise, as well as all those prepared to join the process of transition to democracy."
Representatives of the INTC are expected to attend the London conference but will not participate directly.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments