US Senator Visits Libyan Rebels in Benghazi

US Republican senator John McCain (R) walks with Abdul Hafiz Ghoqa, spokesman of the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC), during his tour to the rebel headquarters in their eastern stronghold city of Benghazi , April 22, 2011

U.S. Senator John McCain arrived in the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi Friday to meet with opposition leaders and to assess the situation on the ground.

McCain told reporters the rebels are his "heroes", after his arrival in the eastern city that serves as the headquarters of the Libyan opposition.

The veteran Republican lawmaker was one of the strongest advocates for a military intervention in Libya, where rebel fighters are battling forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi.

His visit comes a day after the United States approved the use of armed drone aircraft to support the NATO military mission in the country.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates Thursday said President Barack Obama approved the use of the unmanned and remotely operated planes, which are capable of carrying out precise missile strikes.

Officials say the drones will be especially useful in urban areas, like Misrata, where they can fly low and strike targets in crowded areas with more accuracy.

Rebel leaders have been urging NATO to provide more help in Misrata, which has been under siege by pro-government troops.  Rights groups say hundreds of people have been killed in the city in more than six weeks of fighting.

The bodies of two western photojournalists killed in Misrata were loaded onto a Greek passenger ferry Thursday carrying civilians fleeing the fighting for the rebel-held city of Benghazi.

Meantime, rebels in western Libya say they have taken control of a remote border crossing with Tunisia, following fierce clashes with government forces.  News agencies say as many as 100 soldiers fled into Tunisia and surrendered, as rebels took over the outpost 240 kilometers southwest of Tripoli.

Source VOA

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