Gaddafi must go, says Clinton

Removing Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is the best way to protect Libya's civilians, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.

"We have made it abundantly clear that the best way to protect civilians is for Gaddafi 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."

She in Rome 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 today is expected to seek ways to give financial support to the rebels, who have indicated they need 1.5 billion dollars (£900 million) 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 dollars (£15 million) in surplus, non-lethal 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 dollars. 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 in Rome that they are "hungry for basic arms."