SECY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYS ISRAEL'S GOVT SHOULD PREVENT FURTHER SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION WHERE POSSIBLE TO HELP REVITALIZE MIDEAST PEACE TALKS *

BUT KERRY ISN'T CALLING FOR A COMPLETE SETTLEMENT FREEZE *

HE SAYS THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON RESTARTING DIRECT ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH COULD SET BORDERS FOR A TWO-STATE DEAL AND RESOLVE THE SETTLEMENT ISSUE *

KERRY MADE THE REMARKS TO REPORTERS IN ISRAEL *

SECY OF STATE JOHN KERRY BLASTS IRAN'S GUARDIAN COUNCIL FOR ELIMINATING HUNDREDS OF PRES CANDIDATES FROM THE JUNE 14 ELECTION *

KERRY SAYS VOTE CAN'T BE FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT WHEN AN UNELECTED BODY CHOOSES CANDIDATES BASED "SOLELY ON WHO REPRESENTS THE REGIME'S INTERESTS" *

IRAN'S GUARDIAN COUNCIL HAS DISQUALIFIED SCORES OF CANDIDATES, INCLUDING FMR PRES AKBAR HASHEMI RAFSANJANI *

KERRY ALSO NOTED THERE ARE "TROUBLE SIGNS" THAT TEHRAN IS MEDDLING WITH IRAN'S INTERNET *

WA STATE OFFICIAL SAYS LAST NIGHT'S I-5 BRIDGE COLLAPSE INTO THE SKAGIT RIVER WAS CAUSED BY AN OVERSIZED TRUCK *

STATE PATROL CHIEF JOHN BATISTE SAYS THE TRUCK HIT AN OVERHEAD SPAN *

TWO OTHER VEHICLES WENT INTO THE WATER... THREE PEOPLE WERE RESCUED AND ARE RECOVERING *

FIVE CLIMBERS ARE MISSING AND FEARED DEAD ON THE WORLD'S THIRD-LARGEST MOUNTAIN *

THE FIVE DISAPPEARED MON ON NEPAL'S MOUNT KANCHENJUNGA *

BAD WEATHER HAS PREVENTED RESCUE EFFORTS *

THE CLIMBERS WERE LAST SEEN DESCENDING FROM THE SUMMIT AT AROUND 25,900 FT... KANCHENJUNGA IS 28,162 FEET HIGH *

LARGE EXPLOSION SHAKES AFGHAN CAPITAL OF KABUL *

BLAST COLLAPSED A BUILDING WALL, BUT IT'S UNCLEAR IF THERE WERE ANY CASUALTIES *

IT'S THE SECOND EXPLOSION TO HIT KABUL IN JUST OVER A WEEK *

EGYPTIAN SECURITY OFFICIAL SAYS 10 MALE RELATIVES KILLED A MOTHER AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS IN "HONOR KILLINGS" *

THE MEN SUSPECTED THE WOMEN OF HAVING AFFAIRS AND KILLED THEM TO PROTECT THE FAMILY'S HONOR *

THE THREE BODIES WERE FOUND IN THE NILE RIVER NEAR THE CITY OF LUXOR *

NJ GOV CHRIS CHRISTIE CUTS A RIBBON TO SYMBOLICALLY REOPEN THE JERSEY SHORE FOR THE SUMMER SEASON, SEVEN MONTHS AFTER IT WAS DEVASTATED BY MONSTER STORM SANDY *

CHRISTIE CUT THE FIVE MILE-LONG RIBBON IN SEASIDE HEIGHTS *

SANDY DID AN ESTIMATED $37 BIL WORTH OF DAMAGE IN NJ *

BRITISH SECURITY OFFICIAL SAYS SITUATION INVOLVING A PAKISTANI AIRPLANE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE TERROR-RELATED, ALTHOUGH IT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION *

BRITAIN SCRAMBLED FIGHTER JETS TO INTERCEPT A COMMERCIAL AIRLINER CARRYING SOME 300 PASSENGERS FROM LAHORE, PAKISTAN TO MANCHESTER *

PLANE WAS DIVERTED TO STANDSTED AIRPORT, OUTSIDE OF LONDON, AND TWO PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ENDANGERING THE AIRCRAFT *

POWERFUL 8.3 EARTHQUAKE HITS EASTERN RUSSIA, WITH TREMORS FELT AS FAR AWAY AS MOSCOW, ABOUT 4,400 MILES WEST OF THE EPICENTER *

NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE *

THE QUAKE WAS CENTERED IN THE KURIL-KAMCHATKA ARC, ONE OF THE MOST SEISMICALLY ACTIVE REGIONS IN THE WORLD *

SYRIAN GOVT AGREES TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE PROPOSED BY THE U.S. AND RUSSIA TO END SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR *

PRES BASHAR ASSAD'S GOVT HAS NOT ISSUED A DEFINITIVE STATEMENT ON PROPOSED TALKS, BUT A SYRIAN LAWMAKER SAYS THE GOVT PLANS TO ATTEND *

CONFERENCE IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN GENEVA NEXT MONTH *

FRENCH SPECIAL FORCES AND NIGER TROOPS FATALLY SHOOT THE LAST TWO TERRORISTS INVOLVED IN YESTERDAY'S TWIN ATTACK ON A MILITARY BASE AND FRENCH URANIUM MINE IN NIGER *

CREDIT FOR ATTACKS WAS CLAIMED BY AL QAEDA-LINKED MOKHTAR BELMOKHTAR, WHO COORDINATED THEM WITH MUJWA MILITANT GROUP *

NIGER HAS EMERGED AS A FIRM ALLY OF FRANCE AND THE U.S. IN THE FIGHT AGAINST AL QAEDA-LINKED GROUPS *

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Libyan government releases statement on U.S. Consulate attack

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STATEMENT BY THE LIBYAN GNC

 

The General National Congress of Libya (GNC) and the Transitional Government wish to express their strong condemnation and disapproval for the criminal attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi yesterday, the death of his Excellency the US Ambassador and 3 staff members, injury to numerous people, and damage to the building.  We emphasize that this disgraceful act is contrary to the teachings of our values and religion, as well as the Islamic and Arabic cultural norms of hospitality. During a time when we strongly condemn any attempt to abuse or insult the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), we still strongly condemn and oppose any use of force or terrorism against civilians, or the killing of innocent people.

 

This criminal act has coincided with numerous attempts of those who seek to hamper the democratic aspirations of Libya.  They have taken a stance against the GNC and Transitional Government in order to spoil the joy of the Libyan people and derail what has been accomplished in Libya, and to obstruct our progress, which includes capturing some of the ex-regime members like Abdulla Al Sanousi.   This confirms that the cowardly act comes as part of a series of incidents of the 2/17 revolution, which conspires to thwart the security of the country.

 

After the joint meeting which lasted until the early morning between the GNC and Transitional Government and its many members and security and military offices, some strict legal measurements were taken to put a stronghold on the offenders and bring them to justice, in protection of the national and homeland security.  Also, a united entity was formed between the GNC and Transitional Government to follow up on the security situation and specifically to ensure that security measures are taken.  There will be constant communication and we confirm that no one will flee or be at large from justice and accountability.

 

Also, the GNC and Transitional Government present in the name of the Libyan people their deepest condolences to the US Government, the American people, the families of the Ambassador and victims, and confirm the close ties between Libya and the United States, which have become even closer since the decision of the American government to support the revolution of 2/17.

 

In conclusion, we assure that diplomatic delegations, foreign companies and expatriates in Libya are under the protection of our security, which shall ensure their safety.  We call for all of the Libyan people and the Libyan institutions to stand as a united front against anyone who tries to undermine Libyan safety, thwart the potential of Libya or distort the Libyan image.