Libya seeks US help to find Benghazi attackers

Libya’s ambassador to Washington has pleaded for American help in finding the Islamist militants behind the attacks that killed US ambassador Chris Stevens and three diplomatic colleagues at a consulate in his country.

“We strongly condemn this horrible attack,” ambassador Ali Suleiman Aujali told journalists.

“We’ll do everything possible to find those responsible for this deadly attack,” he said, but added “we need help” to find them.

“Do they have international connection? How many groups are involved?” Aujali told a press conference here one day after the storming of the US consulate in Benghazi, eastern Libya.

Benghazi, once the cradle of a NATO-backed revolt against dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has become a hotbed of tribal and Islamist militia activity.

The Libyan envoy decried the assault on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, as an affront to peace-loving Libyans who not long ago still suffered under Gaddafi’s rule.

“This act is against the Libyans who try to be a democratic country,” he said.

“We had the support of the American people during the war, during the revolution,” he said, adding that he hoped that Washington would not suspend its support.

“We need this help not only during the war, but also during the peace,” Aujali said.