Wounded Libyan fighters to receive treatment in the U.S., Germany

Wounded Libyan fighters to receive treatment in the U.S., Germany

2011-10-28 20:49:50 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The United States will transport two dozen Libyan fighters to a hospital in Boston on Saturday to receive medical care for their injuries, officials said. Six others will be transported to Germany.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said in a joint statement that 24 seriously wounded Libyan fighters will be flown to Spaulding Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday in response to a request from the National Transitional Council (NTC).

"Libya's new freedom has come at a price in human life and suffering. Just as the United States and the international community stood with the Libyan people during the revolution, we continue to work with Libya to address urgent humanitarian needs," Clinton and Panetta said. "All of these patients were injured as a result of recent fighting and suffer from conditions that cannot currently be treated in Libya."

Clinton and Panetta said the United States offers the emergency medical evacuation assistance as "a small token of our support" to Libya. "We will continue to stand by the people of Libya and support them as a partner and friend as they build a new, democratic future," they said.

In addition to the 24 injured fighters being flown to Boston, six others will be transferred to Germany for immediate care.

Libya's civil war came to an end on Sunday when the NTC declared the full liberation of the country, more than eight months after the popular uprising began and days after ousted Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was killed in his hometown Sirte.

It is believed more than 25,000 people have been killed during the civil war.

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