Obama Vows Justice After Libya Attack; Libyans Pick New PM - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed to bring to justice those who carried out the attack that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.

Obama said, however, that the attack against the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi would not break the bond between Washington and Tripoli.

The violence was seen as a possible threat to international cooperation to establish a stable Libyan government following the overthrow one year ago of Muammar Qaddafi by Libyan forces with NATO air support.

Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans died late on September 11 after gunmen stormed the consulate amid protests, purportedly over a film privately produced in the United States that depicts the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, in an unflattering light.

After the rebel victory in Libya, Stevens was nominated and confirmed as the new U.S. ambassador to Tripoli. In prepared remarks for his confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate in March 2012, Stevens wrote optimistically about the rebels and the potential for the United States to help.

Reports said dozens of elite Marine guards had been deployed to Benghazi after the attack on the consulate.

U.S. officials were quoted as saying the military was also moving two U.S. destroyers toward the Libyan coast "as a precautionary measure."

PHOTO GALLERY: Flames engulf the U.S. Consulate in eastern Libya late on September 11, and its aftermath the following day:

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"The United States condemns, in the strongest terms, this outrageous and shocking attack," Obama said. "We are working with the government of Libya to secure our diplomats. I've also directed my administration to increase our security at diplomatic posts around the world. And make no mistake -- we will work with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked our people."

The head of Libya's national assembly, Mohammed Magarief, pledged that authorities would bring the perpetrators to justice.

The incident came on the eve of a vote by the Libyan national assembly to elect a prime minister.

In the shadow of the Benghazi violence, lawmakers on September 12 chose Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur to head the next government.

Shagur narrowly beat Mahmoud Jibril, who served as interim prime minister following the uprising against Muammar Qaddafi last year, in a runoff vote.

Shagur has pledged to make security a priority during his 18-month tenure. Shagur has a long history of opposition to Qaddafi. He earned a doctorate in the United States and worked as an academic and optical engineer.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was "shocked by the tragic deaths" of the U.S. diplomats. In a telegram to Clinton, he said the attack "once again affirms the need for joint efforts of our countries and the entire world community in the fight against the evil of terrorism in all its forms."

Leaders from Afghanistan and Egypt were among others to have condemned the Benghazi violence.

More Anger Over Film

Meanwhile in Egypt, protesters have clashed with security forces after crowds returned to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo for a second evening of demonstrations over the film.

Reports said police fired tear gas at the demonstrators, some of whom were seen carrying petrol bombs.

Although the 14-minute video for the anti-Islamic film, "Innocence of Muslims," was posted on YouTube months ago, fierce protests were sparked after an Egyptian cleric dubbed the clip into Arabic in early September.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, and "The Guardian"