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Hillary Clinton testifies on Benghazi embassy attack Hillary Clinton testifies on Benghazi embassy attack
(35 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is giving evidence to Congress over the deadly attack on a US mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is giving evidence to Congress over the deadly attack on a US mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year.
Mrs Clinton is facing questions from the foreign relations committees of the Senate and the House about security failures that led to the attack. "I take responsibility," Mrs Clinton told the foreign relations committee of the Senate, referring to security failures that led to the attack.
She had been due to testify late last year but fell ill.She had been due to testify late last year but fell ill.
The US envoy to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other officials were killed in the attack on 11 September.The US envoy to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other officials were killed in the attack on 11 September.
The ambassador died of smoke inhalation when he was trapped in the burning consulate building, after armed men had stormed the compound.The ambassador died of smoke inhalation when he was trapped in the burning consulate building, after armed men had stormed the compound.
The assault triggered a major political row over who knew what and when. As a result, an independent panel - the Accountability Review Board - was charged with investigating the incident.The assault triggered a major political row over who knew what and when. As a result, an independent panel - the Accountability Review Board - was charged with investigating the incident.
Instability
Four months after the attack on Benghazi, Mrs Clinton is finally testifying in an open hearing in Congress about what happened, how her department and the administration handed it, and how to move forward.
Mrs Clinton has testified once before on Benghazi already, in a closed session, when the investigation was still ongoing. Many questions were left unanswered. Her second appearance was delayed by a month-long illness.
In her opening remarks, Mrs Clinton stressed that on the day following the assault on the Benghazi mission, she described it as an attack by militants, and says she stood next to President Obama as he spoke of an act of terror.
Mrs Clinton is hoping her long-awaited appearance in front of Congress will defuse some of the political acrimony that has engulfed the debate about Benghazi. Much is at stake in this hearing, not just for Mr Obama's foreign policy in his second term and how Republicans will interact with his administration, but also for Mrs Clinton herself. This is her last high-profile public appearance before she steps down in a couple of weeks.
In her opening remarks, Mrs Clinton pointed to the rise of Islamist militancy across North Africa and said: "Benghazi did not happen in a vacuum."
The secretary of state's appearance comes less than a week after a siege by Islamist militants at a gas facility in Algeria in which three Americans died.
"Instability in Mali has created an expanding safe haven for terrorists," Mrs Clinton said.
Responding to questions, she said: "We have to recognise this is a global movement - we can kill leaders but until we help establish strong democratic institutions... we're going to be faced with this level of instability."
Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, where Mrs Clinton is surrounded by former colleagues and the tone is likely to be respectful, says the BBC's Washington correspondent, Kim Ghattas.Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, where Mrs Clinton is surrounded by former colleagues and the tone is likely to be respectful, says the BBC's Washington correspondent, Kim Ghattas.
Mrs Clinton's voice shook with emotion as she described the moment she and President Barack Obama welcomed home the caskets of those killed in the Benghazi attacks, saying this was "personal".
In the House, however, Mrs Clinton is expected to face much more heat.In the House, however, Mrs Clinton is expected to face much more heat.
The panel review did not blame her directly for any of the failures, but members of Congress will still want to know why she was not personally aware of requests for more security in a high-risk posting like Libya, our correspondent adds.The panel review did not blame her directly for any of the failures, but members of Congress will still want to know why she was not personally aware of requests for more security in a high-risk posting like Libya, our correspondent adds.
'Cover up' 'Cover-up'
On Tuesday, Republican Senator John McCain said he wanted to press Mrs Clinton on where she was on the night of the attack, and what warnings there had been about deteriorating security.On Tuesday, Republican Senator John McCain said he wanted to press Mrs Clinton on where she was on the night of the attack, and what warnings there had been about deteriorating security.
"It's been a cover-up from the beginning," he told reporters."It's been a cover-up from the beginning," he told reporters.
She is also facing questions about how the administration of President Barack Obama handled the fallout.She is also facing questions about how the administration of President Barack Obama handled the fallout.
Three State Department employees have been fired over the Benghazi attack, and recommendations the panel made in December are already being implemented.Three State Department employees have been fired over the Benghazi attack, and recommendations the panel made in December are already being implemented.
The secretary of state's appearance comes less than a week a siege by Islamist militants at a gas facility in Algeria in which three Americans died.
Mrs Clinton, who is stepping down from her post in two weeks, has spent a month recuperating from a series of ailments in December.Mrs Clinton, who is stepping down from her post in two weeks, has spent a month recuperating from a series of ailments in December.
She was treated in hospital for a blood clot near her brain, weeks after fainting and suffering a concussion in the subsequent fall.She was treated in hospital for a blood clot near her brain, weeks after fainting and suffering a concussion in the subsequent fall.
Mr Obama appointed Mrs Clinton at the start of his first term in 2009. She is considered a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for president should she run in 2016.Mr Obama appointed Mrs Clinton at the start of his first term in 2009. She is considered a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for president should she run in 2016.
Outrage in Congress over the Benghazi incident and its aftermath has already led US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, to withdraw from the race to succeed Mrs Clinton.Outrage in Congress over the Benghazi incident and its aftermath has already led US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, to withdraw from the race to succeed Mrs Clinton.
Last November, Mrs Rice admitted releasing incorrect information after the Benghazi attack. She said there had been no attempt to mislead the public, but Republicans were unconvinced.Last November, Mrs Rice admitted releasing incorrect information after the Benghazi attack. She said there had been no attempt to mislead the public, but Republicans were unconvinced.
Mr Obama has since nominated Democratic Senator John Kerry - who is expected to be swiftly confirmed - as Mrs Clinton's replacement.Mr Obama has since nominated Democratic Senator John Kerry - who is expected to be swiftly confirmed - as Mrs Clinton's replacement.
Mrs Clinton is due to testify for 90 minutes before the committees.Mrs Clinton is due to testify for 90 minutes before the committees.