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US ambassador 'killed in Libya' US confirms ambassador killed in Libya
(about 1 hour later)
The US ambassador to Libya has died after an attack by militiamen on the US consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi, reports say. The US ambassador to Libya is among four Americans killed in an attack on the US consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, President Barack Obama has confirmed.
Ambassador Christopher Stevens is said to be among four US officials killed in a protest over a US-produced film that is said to insult the Prophet Muhammad. Unidentified armed men stormed the grounds on Tuesday night in a protest over a US-produced film that is said to insult the Prophet Muhammad.
The US state department has only confirmed the death of one official - but it has not named them. They shot at buildings and threw handmade bombs into the compound.
Protesters have also attacked the US embassy in Cairo over the film. Protesters also attacked the US embassy in Cairo over the film.
In the attack in Benghazi, unidentified armed men stormed the grounds, shooting at buildings and throwing handmade bombs into the compound. In a statement, President Obama condemned the "outrageous attack" on the facility in Benghazi.
Security forces returned fire but Libyan officials say they were overwhelmed. "Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi," he said.
A Libyan official has said Ambassador Stevens died from suffocation as a result of the attack. Mr Obama also ordered a tightening of security at US diplomatic posts around the globe.
'No justification' The killing was also condemned by the Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur.
href="http://statedept.tumblr.com/post/31380336590/statement-by-secretary-clinton-on-the-attack-in" >In a statement earlier, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed the death of a US official, saying: "We are heartbroken by this terrible loss". "I condemn these barbaric acts in the strongest possible terms. This is an attack on America, Libya and free people everywhere," he said on the social networking site Twitter.
"Some have sought to justify this vicious behaviour as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet," she said in a statement. The killing of the US ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, raises a host of questions about security, the prevalence of armed militias in the country and the whole trajectory of Libya's democratic project.
"The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind." The Obama administration in Washington will want answers from the Libyan government about the scale of the security measures in place at its consulate in Benghazi and how demonstrators were able to get into the building.
The US will also urgently need to review its own contingency planning with one Libyan official indicating that the ambassador was killed by a rocket attack on his car as he was being driven to a place of safety.
More broadly the ambassador's death highlights the continuing instability in Libya as the country struggles to establish security and the rule of law.
The country is awash with weapons and armed militias - some of a salafist or extreme Islamic fundamentalist outlook - hold sway in many areas.
Reports say a militia known as the Ansar al-Sharia brigade was involved in the attack, but the group has denied the claim, the BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says.Reports say a militia known as the Ansar al-Sharia brigade was involved in the attack, but the group has denied the claim, the BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says.
Our correspondent says many people are still armed following the conflict that overthrew Col Muammar Gaddafi last year.Our correspondent says many people are still armed following the conflict that overthrew Col Muammar Gaddafi last year.
The film that sparked the demonstration is said to have been produced by a 52-year-old US citizen from California named Sam Bacile, and promoted by an expatriate Egyptian Copt.The film that sparked the demonstration is said to have been produced by a 52-year-old US citizen from California named Sam Bacile, and promoted by an expatriate Egyptian Copt.
The two men are described as having anti-Islamic views.The two men are described as having anti-Islamic views.
A trailer of the low-budget movie has appeared on YouTube translated into Arabic. A trailer of the low-budget movie, which correspondents say is highly provocative and insulting to Muslims, has appeared on YouTube translated into Arabic.
There were calls on social media networks for protests against US interests in the capital, Tripoli, but no disturbances have been confirmed, our correspondent says. The BBC's Richard Galpin says there are real fears that protests over the video could spread.
The rally followed a demonstration in Cairo, in which protesters breached the US embassy and tore down the US flag, which was flying at half mast to mark the 9/11 attacks, and replaced it with an Islamist banner. A demonstration in Cairo on Tuesday saw protesters breach the US embassy and tear down the US flag, which was flying at half mast to mark the 9/11 attacks.
Thousands of protesters had gathered outside the US embassy in the Egyptian capital. They condemned what they said was the humiliation of the Prophet of Islam under the pretext of freedom of speech.
Egyptian protesters condemned what they said was the humiliation of the Prophet of Islam under the pretext of freedom of speech.
"Both Muslims and Christians are participating in this protest against this offence to Islam," said one protester, according to Associated Press news agency.
Are you in Benghazi? Did you witness the incident? You can send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in Benghazi? Did you witness the incident? You can send us your experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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