U.S. vows to continue mission in Libya despite envoy’s death

Washington, United States (4E) – The United States on Wednesday pledged to continue its mission in Libya of building a democratic rule irrespective of Tuesday’s attack, which killed U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens along with three of his colleagues.

At least five U.S. diplomatic staff was also injured in the attack. Islamic militants, upset over a movie mocking Islam, apparently attacked the U.S. consulate in Libya’s second largest city Benghazi on the anniversary of 9/11 attacks.

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the attack and paid tribute to Stevens. Ambassador Chris Stevens had assumed the post in May. He was a career officer with the U.S. foreign service. “The United States condemns in the strongest terms this outrageous and shocking attack. Make no mistake, we will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people,” Obama said.

“The attack will not break the bonds between the United States and Libya,” he added. No group has yet claimed the responsibility of the attack and it is sill unclear who was behind the attack. “We are not in a position to speak any further to the perpetrators of this attack. It was clearly a complex attack. We’re going to have to do a full investigation,” a senior US official said. The FBI has already begun its investigation.

According to Libya’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Dabbashi, the Libyan security forces attempted to protect the compound from Muslim militants – an incident that either hurt or killed at least 10 of its members.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has immediately ordered its diplomatic staff to evacuate Benghazi from where the wounded ones would be sent to Germany for treatment. The U.S. has also reduced staff at its embassy in capital Tripoli. The 50-strong unit US Marine counter-terrorism unit is also dispatched to Tripoli for the security of the main embassy. President Obama has also intensified security at all American diplomatic missions across the world.

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