In an attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens and three other embassy staff members have been killed by fundamentalist gunmen who barraged the consulate and then set it on fire.
According to reports, the gunmen were Islamist fundamentalists who were angered over an American film that derided the prophet Mohammad. The film, which was endorsed by a U.S. pastor, Terry Jones, showed the prophet to be a child molester, and killer. The film was posted on Youtube. Jones has become infamous in US for the burning of Quran incident.
President Obama delivered a speech on Wednesday along side with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Obama said, "condemns in the strongest terms these outrageous attacks," as reported by NBC.
"Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States," Obama told CNN reporters.
Clinton said the attacks were carried out by a "small and savage group," according to Reuters. Clinton said the attacks should "Shock the conscious of people of all faiths," as reported on NBC.
Stevens severed as the US ambassador to Libya since June 2012. He was 52. Sean Smithhas been identified as one of the other three staff members who were killed in the attack. Smith was Foreign Service information management officer and worked with the state department for over a decade. The other two victims have yet to be identified.
The attacks have raised questions about America's involvement in the crisis stricken Libya. Libya has been under violent turmoil due to the civil war, which erupted in 2011 marked by the over-throwing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
