U.S. to treat 24 seriously wounded Libyan fighters

The United States will offer medical treatment to 24 Libyan fighters who were seriously wounded in the recent battles to oust former leader Muammar Gaddafi, senior U.S. officials said Thursday. The United States will be transporting 24 seriously wounded fighters to Spaulding Hospital in Boston for treatment on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a joint statement. "All of these patients were injured as a result of recent fighting and suffer from conditions that cannot currently be treated in Libya," the two officials said. The offer was made in response to a request by the National Transitional Council (NTC), the interim governing body in Libya. An additional six critical cases will be transferred to Germany for immediate care. The United States and its NATO allies helped the NTC overthrow Gaddafi's 42-year rule in Libya. The NTC officially announced the liberation of Libya three days after Gaddafi's death last week. Special Report: Situation in Libya