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Libya Prez: Consulate Attack 'Planned' By Foreigners

Says 50 arrests of foreigners have been made

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 16, 2012 9:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – Libyan President Mohammed el-Megarif took to the US airwaves this morning, Politico reports, telling Face the Nation that his nation has made 50 arrests in the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. "The way these perpetrators acted and moved—and they're choosing the specific date for this so-called demonstration—this leaves us with no doubt that this was pre-planned, determined," he said. "It was planned by foreigners, by people who entered the country a few months ago." Some, he said, were "definitely" from neighboring Algeria and Mali.

Asked by host Bob Schieffer whether Libya would allow the FBI in to investigate, el-Megarif demurred: "Maybe it is better for them to stay for a little while, for a little while. But until we, we do what we have to do ourselves. Any hasty action I think is not welcome." But the attacks in no way represent Libya's attitude toward the US, he said. "These ugly deeds, criminal deeds, were directed against the late Ambassador Chris Stevens and his colleagues do not resemble (in) any way, in any sense, the aspirations, the feelings of Libyans towards the United States and its citizens."

In this Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 photo, Mohammed el-Megarif speaks after the national assembly elected El-Megarif, a former opposition leader, the country's interim president.
In this Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 photo, Mohammed el-Megarif speaks after the national assembly elected El-Megarif, a former opposition leader, the country's interim president.   (AP Photo)
President Mohammed el-Megarif, center, visits the US Consulate to express sympathy for the death of US ambassador Chris Stevens, Friday, Sept. 14, 2012.
President Mohammed el-Megarif, center, visits the US Consulate to express sympathy for the death of US ambassador Chris Stevens, Friday, Sept. 14, 2012.   (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 29 comments
ppacimr9ball
Sep 17, 2012 10:08 AM CDT
foreigners = cia
njgreen
Sep 16, 2012 12:40 PM CDT
Libya has a president?
carson
Sep 16, 2012 11:52 AM CDT
a us president once declared that the face of mideast politics was going to have to change...i saw him badgered what will it cost?...when will it end?...he could only look at the floor...afganistan is still a mess but its not controlled by the taliban....saddam is gone... gaddafi is gone...mubarak is gone...a lot of decent people have died along the way...on both sides...we lost a hardees and a kfc compared to the wholesale destruction 911 has cost the mideast...i ll support any leader who will call for peace...but i will not tolerate death to america no more
 

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