Attack on US consulate condemned, video 'highly offensive': MFA

Singapore condemns the Sept 11 attack on the United States (US) consulate in Libya, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement on Friday.

In response to media queries regarding the attack on the US consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Tuesday, which resulted in the deaths of the US Ambassador to Libya and three other US diplomatic staff, the MFA spokesman said: "Singapore strongly condemns the violent attacks on the US Consulate in Benghazi that resulted in the tragic deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and his colleagues."

Singapore expresses its deepest condolences and sympathies to the families and friends of the victims. Added the spokesman: "The properties of foreign diplomatic missions and safety of foreign diplomatic staff should always be protected and guaranteed under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

In response to media queries on the film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked off anti-American protests in several countries in the Middle East, the MFA spokesman said: "Singapore also strongly condemns the video, Innocence of Muslims, which denigrates Islam. The video is highly offensive to Muslims and Singapore deplores the actions of the makers of this insensitive video. Freedom of speech must be balanced with respect for religious sensitivities. At the same time, extreme acts by individuals should be dealt with in a calm and rational manner, and can never provide the excuse for any acts of violence.”