US ambassador among several killed in Libyan attack

The United States ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, and four American security staff have been killed in an attack in the city of Benghazi.

Several Libyans are also reported to have been killed.

It is reported that they died after a rocket was launched on the American consulate in the city.

Libya's Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur has condemned the attack saying Stevens was a friend of Libya.

"We are shocked at the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi," he said.

Protesters have been attacking U.S. diplomatic compounds in Libya and Egypt over the past 24 hours because of an online film they say is offensive to Islam.

The CNN reports that Stevens was the American envoy to the Libyan rebel movement that overthrew dictator Moammar Gadhafi last year, based in the rebel capital of Benghazi.

radio@gleanerjm.com