European Union opens mission in Benghazi

Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief, has pledged support for Libya's rebels during her first visit to the opposition stronghold of Benghazi.

Ashton became the highest-ranking foreign diplomat to visit the city since the revolt against longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi began in mid-February.

She toured the waterfront courthouse square where thousands of people in February called for Gaddafi's ousting and came under fire from army and security forces.

The square has become the public heart of the protest movement in Benghazi and is covered in memorials for those who have died in the conflict.

Ashton opened an EU diplomatic mission in the city of around 700,000 people, which stood on the brink of street warfare two months ago, before international air strikes forced the retreat of troops loyal to Gaddafi.

Speaking to Al Jazeera in Benghazi on Sunday, Ashton said: "We are here to support them [the rebels] for the long term.

"What I was really interested to discuss with people, with them [the rebels] and with groups of people I've met, women's groups, young people I've met, people from the media here, and so on, is the kind of things they're looking for.

"Some of it is about capacity building, the ability to be able to build the institutions that don't exist, having a political process that's going to last by having [a] political parties system, whatever they decide.

"Also things like security and border management, really practical ways in which people can feel secure here."