Libyan President says al-Qaeda planned US consulate attack

The President of Libya has said that the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi was pre-planned and had nothing to do with religion. He said "I think this was al-Qaeda".

Libyan President Mohamed al-Magarief told Al Jazeera's correspondent Hoda Abdel-Hamid that the attack in Libya was "a dirty act of revenge that has nothing to do with religion." He went on to say that those who prepared the attack "took advantage of the movie for justification." Al-Magarief' further commented "I think this was al-Qaeda," noting several al-Qaeda members are still active in Libya. He did not name any of the extremist groups currently active in Libya, though the Washington Institute has said several Libyan Islamic extremists have applauded the attack. Magarief's comments contradict previous remarks by the Libyan government which have indicated former Gaddafi loyalists in the attack.