US President Barrack Obama, has today confirmed that due to an attack on the US Consulate in Libya, four Americans have been killed. Included in the list of the deceased is the American ambassador.

The grounds of the consulate were stormed overnight amid uproar among Muslims over a US-produced film said to insult the Prophet Muhammad. Approximately 20 gun-wielding attackers descended upon the consulate on Tuesday night. The buildings were shot at and grenades were thrown. At least one building was burnt down as a result of the attack.  It was also reported that protesters in Egypt attacked the US embassy in Cairo on Tuesday night. The spark that started those protests was the same controversial film.

Obama told reporters that this attack would have no effect upon the relationship between the Libyian and US governments, however it has been reported that the US has deployed an anti-terrorist team to Libya in order to help security after the attacks.

Stevens, 52, died due to asphyxiation and it is believed that the second US victim, who was identified as Sean Smith and employed as an information management officer, died from similar causes. The names of the two remaining American fatalities have not yet been released.

Hillary Clinton has praised Stevens and his work, saying that, "He risked his life to stop a tyrant, and gave his life trying to build a better Libya." Libya's current leader, Mohammed Magarief, has apologised to the US over the killings, which he has called "cowardly criminal acts".