FLASH: California man linked to anti-Islam film denies violating probation, is ordered to remain in jail

The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three embassy staff were killed as they rushed away from a consulate building in Benghazi, stormed by al Qaeda-linked gunmen blaming America for a film that they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad. Gunmen had attacked and set fire to the U.S. consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi, the cradle of last year’s uprising against Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule, late on Tuesday evening as another assault was mounted on the U.S. embassy in Cairo. The California-born ambassador, Christopher Stevens, was trying to leave the consulate building for a safer location as part of an evacuation when gunmen launched an intense attack, apparently forcing security personnel to withdraw. “The American ambassador and three staff members were killed when gunmen fired rockets in their direction,” a Libyan official in Benghazi told Reuters. Airport sources said the bodies were due to be flown from Benghazi to Tripoli. READ ON: U.S. ambassador to Libya killed in Benghazi attackPHOTOS:  Protesters storm the U.S. consulate in Benghazi
Pop-upView Separately

The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three embassy staff were killed as they rushed away from a consulate building in Benghazi, stormed by al Qaeda-linked gunmen blaming America for a film that they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad.

Gunmen had attacked and set fire to the U.S. consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi, the cradle of last year’s uprising against Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule, late on Tuesday evening as another assault was mounted on the U.S. embassy in Cairo.

The California-born ambassador, Christopher Stevens, was trying to leave the consulate building for a safer location as part of an evacuation when gunmen launched an intense attack, apparently forcing security personnel to withdraw.

“The American ambassador and three staff members were killed when gunmen fired rockets in their direction,” a Libyan official in Benghazi told Reuters. Airport sources said the bodies were due to be flown from Benghazi to Tripoli.

READ ON: U.S. ambassador to Libya killed in Benghazi attack
PHOTOS:  Protesters storm the U.S. consulate in Benghazi

Actor George Clooney departs the White House after his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama about Darfur at the White House in Washington March 15, 2012. [REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque]
Pop-upView Separately

Actor George Clooney departs the White House after his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama about Darfur at the White House in Washington March 15, 2012. [REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque]

Lionsgate goes into the arena with The Hunger Games. The studio is betting an estimated $120 million that the best-selling trilogy will be a film success.

And Disney licks its wounds after the abysmal failure of John Carter in this week’s Media Bite. [REUTERS/Peter Lauria reports]

Watch on YouTube | More from Reuters TV

A cinema is burning out during anti-austerity demonstration in central Athens February 12, 2012. Greek lawmakers looked set to endorse a new and deeply unpopular austerity deal on Sunday to secure a multi-billion-euro bailout and avert what Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned would be “economic chaos.” [REUTERS/Panayiotis Tzamaros] Read more: Athens buildings burn as lawmakers weigh austerity
Pop-upView Separately

A cinema is burning out during anti-austerity demonstration in central Athens February 12, 2012. Greek lawmakers looked set to endorse a new and deeply unpopular austerity deal on Sunday to secure a multi-billion-euro bailout and avert what Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned would be “economic chaos.” [REUTERS/Panayiotis Tzamaros]

Read more: Athens buildings burn as lawmakers weigh austerity