AJC Outraged by Brutal Murder of U.S. Envoys in Libya

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Sep 12, 2012, 12:58 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC is deeply saddened and outraged by the senseless murder of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American diplomats at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

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"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the murdered American diplomats and their State Department colleagues," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Whatever the provocation by the exercise of free speech in the United States, nothing can justify this heinous attack on U.S. Embassy personnel who sought to assist in building a new era in post-Qaddafi Libya."

The rocket attack that killed the four Americans came during protests against an online video that reportedly originated in the U.S. and was considered offensive by some religious Muslims. In Cairo yesterday, as many as 2,000 gathered outside the U.S Embassy, and many scaled the walls, removing and burning the American flag and replacing it with an al-Qaeda flag. No Americans were injured.

"Violent hostility towards the U.S. is a tragic byproduct of the so-called Arab Spring," said Harris. "We hope the new governments in Egypt, Libya, and other Arab countries will do their utmost to protect American and other diplomats, and bring to justice those responsible for today's tragedy in Libya."

SOURCE American Jewish Committee