German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle was in Malta on a stopover this morning on his way to Benghazi, according to reports that could not be officially confirmed.

He is accompanied by the Minister for Economic Cooperation.

Germany last week said it is opening a liaison office in Benghazi.

The ministers, accompanied by senior German government officials, arrived on an official German Airbus 310 aircraft and transferred to a Transall military transport aircraft in Malta.

They are expected to return to Malta this evening and will meet Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.

Mr Westerwelle said last week that Berlin wants to broaden its ties with members of the Libyan opposition who are seeking to topple  Muammar Gaddafi.

Germany on March 17 abstained in a UN Security Council vote for the use of military force to protect civilians in Libya. 

Since then, Germany participated in humanitarian missions to Libya.

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