African News Agency : Welcome

Washington, 20 Dec - (ANA) - A senior US security official has quit and three others are suspended after a damning report into a deadly attack on a US mission in Benghazi. The state department said diplomatic security chief Eric Boswell resigned and three other unnamed officials had been put on administrative leave. US envoy to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other officials were killed in the attack on 11 September. An internal report said "grossly inadequate" security led to the deaths. However, the report did not suggest disciplinary action be taken against any individuals. US media have named one of Mr Boswell's deputies, Charlene Lamb, and Raymond Maxwell, deputy assistant secretary for the Maghreb, among those relieved of their duties. Mr Stevens died of smoke inhalation when he was trapped alone in the burning building after armed men had stormed the compound. Days after the attack, US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said the attack seemed to have developed out of protests over an anti-Islamic film. But later intelligence reports suggested it was a planned attack by Islamist gunmen. Ms Rice was forced to pull out of the race to be the next secretary of state after being subjected to widespread criticism. (ANA)