Benghazi attacks apolitical, family says

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Examination of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, shouldn't be a political issue, the father of the late ambassador to Libya said.

U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three members of his staff were killed when insurgents stormed the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. The U.S. government described the attack as an act of terrorism.

Jan Stevens, father of the late envoy, told The Daily Mail newspaper in London by telephone that the family thought security matters were being investigated properly.

"We don't pretend to be experts in security. It has to be objectively examined," he said. "That's where it belongs. It does not belong in the campaign arena."

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said the White House ignored security requests from diplomats in Libya prior to the attacks. The U.S. State Department in August had issued a travel advisory for Libya and the International Committee of the Red Cross evacuated some staff members from Benghazi because of the security situation there.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it was her responsibility, not President Barack Obama's, to address any security issues involving diplomats stationed in Libya.

"I'm not going to get into the blame game either about what we don't fully yet know from our own investigation," she told CNN.