US Senator McCain visits Libyan rebel capital
Senior US Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain visited the Libyan rebel headquarters in the opposition-held eastern city of Benghazi on Friday.
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He was due to hold talks with leaders of the rebels’ Transitional National Council later in the day.
The senator was greeted by a crowd of about 50 people who chanted “Libya free, Kadhafi go away – thank you America, thank you Obama”.
McCain’s visit comes a day after US President President Barack Obama authorised the deployment of unmanned drones over Libya.
Missile-carrying warplanes will give Nato commanders precision capabilities to strike targets that are “nestling up against crowded areas”, US General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
Senator McCain had previously urged the US to reengage militarily in the battle to bring down Kadhafi, saying Washington’s Nato allies lack the necessary firepower.
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