Updated 9.45 a.m.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived at the Auberge de Castille for talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

The talks are expected to focus mainly on the situation in Libya and also the possibility of the US deploying a hospital ship to Malta to help the injured in Libya.

Mrs Clinton was greeted just outside the main door of Castille by Dr Gonzi. She told him it was 'wonderful' to be in Malta while Dr Gonzi pointed to the restoration works going on to the façade of the building.

Mrs Clinton ignored shouted questions by reporters on the release by Hamas of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit earlier this morning.

There was a strong security presence outside Castille, with Gilormu Cassar Avenue - which leads to Castille - being closed to all traffic.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Malta just before 2.30 a.m. and was welcomed by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg. She is the most senior US government figure to visit Malta since President George Bush (Sen) and Secretary of State James Baker were here for the superpower summit with then Soviet President Gorbachev in 1989.

Mrs Clinton wrote to Dr Gonzi a few weeks ago to thank Malta for its assistance in the evacuation of American workers from Libya. American diplomatic staff had been evacuated to Malta from Tripoli on a purposely-chartered catamaran.

Her visit comes a day after the visit to Malta by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who left Malta yesterday morning for Libya. Prior to his departure he visited Malta's Control Tower and thanked air traffic controllers for their work in connection with the crisis in Libya.

Mrs Clinton is also expected to visit Libya after Malta.