BENGHAZI: The deadly attack on the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi was planned and “meticulously executed,” the country’s assembly chief told AFP on Saturday.

“I don’t want to talk about what happened in other countries but as for Libya, the operation was meticulously executed,” Mohammed al-Megaryef said of the wave of protests across the world over a US-produced film mocking the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

“There was planning. It was not a peaceful protest which degenerated into an armed attack or aggression. That’s how it was planned,” he said.

US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed on Tuesday when suspected militants fired on the consulate in the eastern Libyan city with rocket-propelled grenades and set it ablaze.

“The attack itself and the manner in which the attack occurred ...confirms that this was planned and programmed to achieve a purpose,” Megaryef said.

The attack “was prepared, especially since it coincided with the date of September 11,” he said in reference to the Sept 11, 2011 attacks in the United States claimed by al Qaeda.

“I do not exclude discovering things that will link al Qaeda and the US consulate attack,” said Megaryef but added that it was “very early to talk about the investigation.”