Assaults in Libya ‘were attacks on America’

US president Barack Obama told world leaders yesterday that attacks on US citizens in Libya “were attacks on America,” and called on them to join in confronting the root causes of the rage across the Muslim world.

“I do believe that it is the obligation of all leaders, in all countries, to speak out forcefully against violence and extremism,” Obama told the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly.

He also condemned the anti-Muslim video that helped spark the attacks, calling it “disgusting”.