Fight against terror not over, says Clinton at Libya meeting

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stressed the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden does not mean the fight against "terrorism" is over, but does show the resolve of the international community to defend freedom. Speaking ahead of international talks in Rome by the Contact Group on Libya, Clinton also said Pakistan's was an important partner in the battle against terror. 

Reuters/Tony Gentile

The meeting of the International Contact Group, which includes all the countries taking part in a Nato-led campaign against Moamer Kadhafi's regime, is expected to focus on funding for Libya's rebels who are asking for some two billion euros.

Italian Foreign Minsiter Franco Frattini said the plan is to set up a type of trust fund under international control to help the rebels.

The Contact Group meeting takes place amid a stalement on the ground in a conflict the rebels claim has killed 10,000 people so far.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation is worsening around the lifeline port of Misrata where shelling by Kadhafi's forces on Wedesday is reported to have killed at least five people.

With the airport in government hands, the rebels are entirely dependent on supplies by sea. Repeated shelling by loyalist forces means few vessels are able to dock resulting in worsening food shortages.

The US has appealed to Kadhafi's regime to stop attacking the port and allow international organisations to send in humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians from the rebel-held city.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said its chartered ship Red Star One had evacuated some 800 people despite shelling and shooting in the port and has now docked in the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi carrying 800 migrants and civilian casualties.

International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo says the murder and prosecution of civilians was still being carried out by Kadhafi's forces and that he was seeking arrest warrants for three people he did not name.

It is thought Moamer Kadhafi is likely to be on the first list of warrants.