The US ambassador to Libya has died after an attack by militiamen on the US consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi, Libyan officials say.
Ambassador Christopher Stevens is said to be among four US officials killed in a protest over a US-produced film that is said to insult the Prophet Muhammad.
US media quote US officials confirming the ambassador's death. But there is no comment from the state department.
Protesters have also attacked the US embassy in Cairo over the film.
In the attack in Benghazi, unidentified armed men stormed the grounds, shooting at buildings and throwing handmade bombs into the compound.
Security forces returned fire but Libyan officials say they were overwhelmed.
A Libyan official has said Ambassador Stevens died from suffocation as a result of the attack.
The death was confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur.
"I condemn these barbaric acts in the strongest possible terms. This is an attack on America, Libya and free people everywhere," he said on the social networking site Twitter.
By: Brant
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