TOKYO, Sept 16: The US military has no major plans to bolster its forces in the Middle East despite a week of violent protests targeting diplomatic outposts, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Sunday.

With a substantial force already deployed in the region coupled with two US Marine counter-terrorism teams sent to Libya and Yemen, the military has the ability to respond as necessary to protect American diplomats, Mr Panetta told reporters before arriving in Tokyo on an Asian tour.

“We do have a major presence in the region,” he said. “Having said that we’ve enhanced that with FAST (Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team) teams and others so that if they are requested, they can respond more quickly.”

But the Pentagon chief said at the moment there was not a need for dispatching additional forces to the region beyond what was requested by the State Department to safeguard diplomatic outposts.

“I don’t anticipate a situation right now where we would have to do something on our own,” he said. “Our approach right now is not to do anything unless requested by the State Department.”

Two 50-strong US Marine counter-terrorism units were sent to Libya and Yemen after Tuesday’s assault in Benghazi to safeguard embassies there.

Mr Panetta praised the Libyan government’s efforts to strengthen security at US missions and search for those behind the deadly attack on Tuesday against the American consulate in Benghazi.

“I think they are making a strong effort to try to respond to this crisis and deal with the issues involved.”

The assault, in which security teams were overwhelmed by heavily-armed gunmen, killed the US ambassador Chris Stevens and three of his staff, in the worst attack on an American diplomatic mission since the 1970s.

Asked if Al Qaeda militants were to blame for the assault in Benghazi, Mr Panetta said: “That remains to be determined. That’s part of what the investigation will determine.”

However, he said that Al Qaeda’s branches in North Africa remained a serious threat and the United States would keep up relentless pressure on the militants.

“We have to continue to go after Al Qaeda wherever they are and whatever affiliates they have that are engaged in terrorism,” said Mr Panetta, who served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency before taking over at the Defence Department.—AFP