The US Ambassador to Libya has been killed during an attack by protestors on the US embassy in Benghazi, according to government officials.
Al-Jazeera reported that the ambassador came under rocket fire whilst in a car and died from smoke inhalation with three other staff of the embassy.
An armed mob attacked the compound on Tuesday after a film critical of Islam was made in the US and released on YouTube.
Wanis al-Sharif, the Libyan deputy interior minister, confirmed the deaths to the AFP news agency.
Mustafa Abu Shagur, the Libyan deputy prime minister, condemned the "cowardly act of attacking the US consulate and the killing of [the ambassador] and the other diplomats".
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the attack and confirmed that a State Department official was killed.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in Benghazi today. As we work to secure our personnel and facilities, we have confirmed that one of our State Department officers was killed. We are heartbroken by this terrible loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who have suffered in this attack.
“This evening, I called Libyan President Magariaf to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya. President Magariaf expressed his condemnation and condolences and pledged his government’s full cooperation.”