September 13, 2012
New Delhi/Mumbai: India has expressed shock at the attack on the United States' consulate at Benghazi that resulted in the death of US ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three other American diplomats late on Tuesday.
September 13, 2012
New Delhi/Mumbai: India has expressed shock at the attack on the United States' consulate at Benghazi that resulted in the death of US ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three other American diplomats late on Tuesday.
In this August 2012 file photo, U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens gives a speech at the US embassy in Tripoli. (MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP/Getty Images)
"We are deeply shocked at the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. India strongly condemns the violent acts which unfortunately resulted in the death of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya and other officials. Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai has spoken to the U.S. Ambassador in Delhi and conveyed our condolences at the tragic loss of life," an official release of the Ministry of External Affairs quoted a MEA spokesperson.
Stevens and other diplomats were killed while fleeing the consulate, when a rocket-propelled grenade struck their vehicle.
Stevens, a long-time Middle East hand in the State Department, was also the American envoy to the Libyan rebel movement that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi last year.
Meanwhile in Mumbai, the city police have stepped up the security cover over the U.S. consulate.
The attack on U.S. consulate was reportedly carried out in a protest over a U.S.-produced film that is said to insult the Prophet Muhammad.
Security at US embassy in Delhi and four of its consulates across India is being tightened following incidents in Libya and neighboring Egypt.
"We have directed beef up of security at all US missions in the country," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters.
Apart from its embassy in New Delhi, the United States has four consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Courtesy: ANI
