Benghazi, Libya - Gunmen and security forces clashed at the United States consulate office in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Tuesday as the armed group protested over a film being produced in the United States, a security official said.
The incident followed a protest in neighbouring Egypt where demonstrators scaled the walls of the US embassy, tore down the American flag and burned it during a protest over what they said was a film that insulted Prophet Mohammad.
“There are fierce clashes between the Libyan army and an armed militia outside the US consulate,” Abdel-Monen Al-Hurr, spokesman for Libya's Supreme Security Committee, said.
“The US consulate's security guards inside the building fired at the militia as it was trying to enter and attack it.”
He said roads had been closed off and security forces were surrounding the building. He said the clashes were outside the consulate building.
“There is a connection between this attack and the protests that have been happening in Cairo,” Hurr said.
“They are trying to take advantage of the security situation in Libya and cause more instability in the country.”
Reuters reporters at the scene said they could hear shooting and one explosion coming from the closed-off area. Rising smoke could also be seen.
A US embassy source said there had been “an attack” on the diplomatic office in Benghazi, but gave no further details.
Benghazi, the cradle of last year's uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, has been hit by several bombings and attacks on international convoys and organisations as well as some Western missions.
In June, an explosive device was dropped from a passing car outside the offices of the US diplomatic mission. The blast that followed slightly damaged the gate in front of the building. A week later, a British embassy convoy was hit about 300m from the British consulate office in the city. - Reuters