Libya meeting seeks ways to persuade Gaddafi to go

Libya support talks draw world leaders to Turkey

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greets the Turkish ambassador to the U.S., Namik Tan, right, alongside U.S. ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone, centre, and his wife, Marie Ricciardone, after disembarking from her airplane in Istanbul on Friday. Clinton joins leaders from nearly 40 countries for meetings to discuss Libya. (Saul Loeb, Pool/Associated Press)

Delegates from nearly 40 countries, including Canada, are meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, to discuss more financial aid and diplomatic support to Libya's main opposition group as the rebels struggled to defeat Moammar Gadhafi-loyal forces.
Senior U.S. officials have said the Obama administration is preparing to strengthen ties with the Transitional National Council once it presents detailed plans for a democratic, transparent and inclusive government as it becomes increasingly clear that the council will govern a post-Gadhafi Libya.
The council, during two days of meetings that began Friday, is expected to lay out plans for moving forward during the meeting of the Contact Group on Libya and seek more financial aid as well as diplomatic recognition.
However, there was uncertainty whether the presentation would satisfy concerns that the initial post-Gadhafi regime represent the full spectrum of Libyan society: all regions, all tribes and all political parties.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen are also attending the meeting.
Canada's representative is Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

Military helping achieve 'tangible results': MacKay

Speaking a day before the Turkey meeting, Defence Minister Peter MacKay from Italy that Canadian troops in Libya and helping mount pressure on Gadhafi.
During a teleconference Thursday from Naples, MacKay praised the Canadian Forces personnel involved in the NATO-led mission, calling them "our greatest citizens and our best ambassadors."
The defence minister met Wednesday with some of the 650 troops stationed at bases in Italy for the operation. Despite the ongoing violence in Libya, MacKay said the Canadian military is helping to achieve "tangible results," including saving lives.More...