US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected in Malta tomorrow for a short visit, government sources have confirmed.
Mrs Clinton will be having talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and is expected to thank Malta for its role in the evacuation of American citizens when the Libya conflict started earlier this year.
It is unclear whether Mrs Clinton will also announce the appointment of a new US ambassador to Malta, a post left vacant after the departure of Douglas Kmiec in April.
Earlier this year the US opened its new embassy, a sprawling compound in Ta’ Qali, and operations are currently run by Chargé d’Affaires Richard Mills.
Mrs Clinton arrives in the afternoon and leaves Malta on Tuesday morning.