US
moves military forces closer to Libya: Pentagon spokesman
Washington has dispatched more troops closer to Libya in the wake of the attack on a US consulate in the North African country so diplomatic personnel can be protected or evacuated in case of any potential threat, the Pentagon has announced.
13
May, 2013
"We
are prepared to respond if necessary, if conditions deteriorate or if
we were called upon," Pentagon spokesman George Little told
reporters in Washington on Monday.
"Obviously
we have moved assets and personnel," he said, without providing
any more details.
On
September 11, 2012, clashes broke out at the US consulate in the
Libyan city of Benghazi after a group of people held a demonstration
to protest against a movie deemed offensive to Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH).
US
Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three staff members of
the US consulate were killed during clashes at the consulate
building.
The
incident occurred following a massive demonstration held earlier in
the day in neighboring Egypt to condemn the anti-Islam movie.
Little
added that the additional military forces were stationed at the NATO
air base in Sigonella on the Italian island of Sicily.
He
went on to say that some of the troops had come from a base in
southern Spain, where 500 Marines, troop transport planes, and
refueling aircraft were recently deployed.
On
May 8, the United States decreased the staff at its embassy in
Tripoli, citing the deteriorating security situation.
Britain
adopted similar measures after a car bomb attack on the French
Embassy in Tripoli injured two French citizens on April 23.
Meanwhile,
a car bombing in a hospital parking lot in Benghazi killed at least
15 people, including children, and injured 30 others on Monday.
The
blast occurred in a crowded area near al-Galaa Hospital.
Benghazi
was the birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time Libyan
dictator Muammar Gaddafi. It is largely governed by militias in the
absence of unified Libyan security and military forces.
The
former rebels refuse to lay down their arms, despite efforts by the
central government to impose law and order.
Benghazi
has been the scene of numerous attacks and assassinations over the
past year as the power struggles between militiamen have intensified.
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