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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| American killed in attack on US consulate in Benghazi | American killed in attack on US consulate in Benghazi |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Protesters angered over a film that ridiculed Islam's Prophet Muhammad fired gunshots and burned down the US consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, killing one American diplomat, witnesses and the State Department said. In Egypt, protesters scaled the walls of the US embassy in Cairo and replaced an American flag with an Islamic banner. | |
| It was the first such assaults on US diplomatic facilities in either country, at a time when both Libya and Egypt are struggling to overcome the turmoil following the ouster of their longtime leaders, Muammar Gaddafi and Hosni Mubarak in uprisings last year. | It was the first such assaults on US diplomatic facilities in either country, at a time when both Libya and Egypt are struggling to overcome the turmoil following the ouster of their longtime leaders, Muammar Gaddafi and Hosni Mubarak in uprisings last year. |
| The protests in both countries were sparked by outrage over a film ridiculing Muhammad produced by an American in California and being promoted by an extreme anti-Muslim Egyptian Christian campaigner in the United States. Excerpts from the film dubbed into Arabic were posted on YouTube. | The protests in both countries were sparked by outrage over a film ridiculing Muhammad produced by an American in California and being promoted by an extreme anti-Muslim Egyptian Christian campaigner in the United States. Excerpts from the film dubbed into Arabic were posted on YouTube. |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed that one State Department officer had been killed in the protest at the US consulate in Benghazi. She strongly condemned the attack and said she had called Libyan President Mohammed el-Megarif "to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya." | |
| Clinton expressed concern that the protests might spread to other countries. She said the US is working with "partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide." | Clinton expressed concern that the protests might spread to other countries. She said the US is working with "partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide." |
| "Some have sought to justify this vicious behaviour as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet," Clinton said in a statement released by the State Department. | |
| "The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind. " | |
| In Benghazi, a large mob stormed the US consulate, with gunmen firing their weapons, said Wanis al-Sharef, an interior ministry official. A witness said attackers fired automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades at the consulate as they clashed with Libyans hired to guard the facility. | |
| Outnumbered by the crowd, Libyan security forces did little to stop them, al-Sharef said. | Outnumbered by the crowd, Libyan security forces did little to stop them, al-Sharef said. |
| The crowd overwhelmed the facility and set fire to it, burning most of it and looting the contents, witnesses said. | The crowd overwhelmed the facility and set fire to it, burning most of it and looting the contents, witnesses said. |
| One American was shot to death and a second was wounded in the hand, al-Sharef said. He did not give further details. | One American was shot to death and a second was wounded in the hand, al-Sharef said. He did not give further details. |
| The violence at the consulate lasted for about three hours, but the situation has now quieted down, said another witness. | The violence at the consulate lasted for about three hours, but the situation has now quieted down, said another witness. |
| "I heard nearly 10 explosions and all kinds of weapons. It was a terrifying day," said the witness who refused to give his name because he feared retribution. | "I heard nearly 10 explosions and all kinds of weapons. It was a terrifying day," said the witness who refused to give his name because he feared retribution. |
| Hours before the Benghazi attack, hundreds of mainly ultraconservative Islamist protesters in Egypt marched to the US Embassy in Cairo, gathering outside its walls and chanting against the movie and the US. Most of the embassy staff had left the compound earlier because of warnings of the upcoming demonstration. | |
| In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Egyptian police had removed the demonstrators who entered the embassy grounds. | In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Egyptian police had removed the demonstrators who entered the embassy grounds. |