Libya: Sorry Chris, Benghazi Couldn't Protect You

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Revolution 2011.

A small crowd of Libyans gathered in Al Shajara Square in Benghazi today [September 12, 2012] to protest against the attack on the US Consulate.

Four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens were killed when militants fired rockets at them as they were being driven to a safer location after protesters surrounded the consulate building.

News reports say protesters surrounded the Consulate, outraged over a film which ridiculed Prophet Mohammed, produced by an American-Israeli film maker. In Cairo, a similar protest was staged, where protesters scaled the US Embassy walls, tearing down the US flag, and replacing it with an Islamic banner.

The killing of Mr Stevens and three other US Consulate staff has outraged netizens from across the region.

From Benghazi, Ahmed Sanalla shares some of the protest signs carried by the protesters on Twitter.

He tweets:

@ASanalla: Small crowd gathered in Alshajra square in #Benghazi to protest against attack on US embassy & calling 4 activation of Army & Police #Libya

Among the chants were [ar]:

هذه ثوره شباب لا قاعدة لا إرهاب. هتفات المتظاهرين في ميدان الشجرة
@ASanalla: This is the revolution of the youth – not Al Qaeda or the terrorists. This is one of the chants at Al Shajara Square

Here is a selection of the photographs Sanalla posts from the protest.

@ASanalla: Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans. Image from today's protest in #Benghazi #USEmbassyattack #Libya pic.twitter.com/jcCkMTUh

"Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans". Another sign held at the Benghazi protest today. Photo shared by Ahmed Sanalla on Twitter

“Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans”. Another sign held at the Benghazi protest today. Photo shared by Ahmed Sanalla on Twitter

@ASanalla: Sorry Chris #Benghazi couldn't protect you. Image from today's protest in Benghazi.

A Benghazi protester carries a sign which reads: "Sorry Chris, Benghazi Couldn't Protect You". Photograph shared on Twitter by Ahmed Sanalla

A Benghazi protester carries a sign which reads: “Sorry Chris, Benghazi Couldn't Protect You”. Photograph shared on Twitter by Ahmed Sanalla

@ASanalla: Thugs & killers don't represent #Benghazi nor #Islam. Image from today's protest in #Benghazi

"Thugs and killers don't represent Islam". Photograph from today's protest in Benghazi shared by @ASanalla on Twitter

“Thugs and killers don't represent Islam”. Photograph from today's protest in Benghazi shared by @ASanalla on Twitter

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Revolution 2011.

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