Obama condemns killing of U.S. ambassador in Libya

U.S. President Barack Obama strongly condemned Wednesday the killing of J. Christopher Stevens, Washington's ambassador to Libya, in a mob attack at a U.S. Consulate, fueled by anger over a film mocking Islam.

Obama called the attack "outrageous," and confirmed that three other Americans were killed by rockets fired at the U.S. Consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi.

"Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States," Obama said.

An "angry crowd" marched on the U.S. compound Tuesday, furious about an American-produced online film considered offensive to Muslims, said Libya's Deputy Interior Minister Wanis al-Sharif .

The U.S. mission in Egypt was also attacked Tuesday in response to the film depicting the prophet Mohammed as a child molester, womanizer and ruthless killer.

Stevens was the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in an attack since 1979.

The United States Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, is seen in flames Tuesday, September 11 following an attack that killed four U.S. personnel, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, witnesses and officials said. An armed mob protesting a film considered offensive to Islam is said to be responsible for the attack. Photos: Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

A protester reacts as the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames Tuesday night. Armed gunmen attacked the compound Tuesday evening, clashing with Libyan security forces before the latter withdrew as they came under heavy fire.

A vehicle and the surrounding area are engulfed in flames after it was set on fire inside the compound Tuesday.

Flames erupt outside of a building in the U.S. consulate compound on Tuesday.

A vehicle burns during the attack Tuesday on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi.

Onlookers record the damage from the attack on Tuesday.

Onlookers walk past a burning truck and building in the compound on Tuesday.

A vehicle sits smoldering in flames on Tuesday.

People duck flames outside a consulate building on Tuesday. Photos: Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

Attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya

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An armed man waves his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the U.S. Consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya, late on Tuesday, September 11. An armed mob protesting a film they said offended Islam attacked the consulate in Benghazi and set fire to the building, killing one American staff member, witnesses and officials said.

The U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is set on fire during a protest. Armed gunmen attacked the compound on Tuesday evening, clashing with Libyan security forces before the latter withdrew as they came under heavy fire.

Protesters destroy an American flag pulled down from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Islamists, angered by a film they say defames the prophet Mohammed, scaled the walls of the embassy to tear down the U.S. flag and raise a black flag in an unprecedented security breach.

People stand around a drawing that says "Remember your black day 11 September" during the protest in Cairo.

People shout slogans and light flares in front of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

People shout slogans in front of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Protesters pull down a U.S. flag.

Thousands angered by the film produced by expatriate members of Egypt's Christian minority in the United States protest outside the U.S. Embassy.

Demonstrators yell outside the U.S. Embassy.

Egyptian riot police stand guard as protesters climb down from the wall.

An Egyptian protester waves a black flag inscribed with the Muslim profession of faith -- "There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the prophet of God" -- as he stands above the door of the U.S. Embassy.

Protesters gather along the U.S. Embassy wall.

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

Protesters storm U.S. Embassy buildings

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Libya's Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib apologized "to the American people and the government, and also to the rest of the world" for the "cowardly criminal act."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton identified a second victim as Sean Smith, a Foreign Service information management officer who was a 10-year veteran of the State Department, a husband and a father of two.

The two other victims have not been named.

Images of the Libya attack

Consulate security staff opened fire after they heard gunfire outside the mission, Al-Sharif said.

"This led to more anger and this is when the consulate was stormed," he said, suggesting that people loyal to deposed dictator Moammar Gadhafi were aiming to create chaos among the protesters.

"Criminals managed to get in and they burned and ransacked the consulate," he said.

The U.S. mission is very badly damaged and was being looted on Wednesday, said a contractor working at the mission, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

He said he saw the bodies of all four Americans on the street Wednesday morning.

Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur said Stevens was "a friend of Libya, and we are shocked at the the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi."

"I condemn these barbaric acts in the strongest possible terms. This is an attack on America, Libya and free people everywhere," Abushagur said on Twitter.

The contractor in Benghazi said he could hear rocket-propelled grenade attacks Tuesday night.

Libyans were also killed, the contractor said, saying the victims were shot on the spot.

The bodies of the four Americans were at Benghazi airport, the contractor said, citing the Libyan minister of foreign affairs and a top immigration official in Benghazi.

Libya's governing party condemned the attack as a "criminal and cowardly act" and vowed to "track down the perpetrators and to maintain the country's security and the safety and security of its guests," Libya's official LANA news agency reported.

Stevens was the American envoy to the rebel movement that overthrew Gadhafi last year, based in Benghazi, the cradle of Libya's uprising.

Friends say Stevens loved Libya and had a deep affinity for the Libyan people, enjoying heading out into the field and getting to know people.

A speaker of Arabic and French, he was among the first U.S. diplomats sent to Libya in 2007 when the United States resumed ties with the Gadhafi regime.

The last time an American ambassador was killed by terrorists was in 1979, when the envoy to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, was kidnapped and killed during an attempt to rescue him, according to State Department records.

Stevens is the sixth U.S. ambassador to die by violence in the line of service. Two others have been killed in plane crashes.

The United States was taking added security measures to protect its citizens worldwide after Tuesday's attacks.