‘Attack on US ambassador equivalent to assault on America’ – Anthony Gioia

Anthony Gioia, who once served as US ambassador to Malta, has described the attack on the US envoy to Libya Chris Stevens as "an equivalent to an assault on America".

"When an ambassador is killed, it is the equivalent of an assault on America.

"A US ambassador is the personal representative of the President of the United States, and when you kill an ambassador, you're really having a direct attack on the President and obviously, our country. So, it's a terrible thing," Gioia said.

The former US ambassador to Malta said he had been deeply concerned over terrorism when he became ambassador at the time of the 9/11 attacks.

"Malta was not far from Libya, and which was no friend of the US at the time.

"We had some concerns, obviously. Any embassy, particularly at that time, was a target."

Meanwhile, the White House is investigating whether the deadly attack on the US Consulate in Libya was a planned terrorist strike to mark September 11.

The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, was among four Americans killed.