U.S. to Provide Part of Qaddafi’s Frozen $33 Billion to Rebels

The Obama administration said it will permit Libyan rebels to draw on the $33 billion in Libyan assets frozen by U.S., as allied nations opposing Muammar Qaddafi looked for further measures to force him from power.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the announcement at a meeting in Rome yesterday of foreign ministers from NATO and allied nations. The Contact Group on Libya vowed to “intensify the pressure” on the Qaddafi regime, which has continued its attacks on civilian areas such as Misrata in defiance of the UN Security Council and major Western powers.