The German government said on its website that it had been "made aware of a specific, imminent threat to Westerners in Benghazi" and urged "all German citizens to immediately leave the city and region of Benghazi".

BBC: Britons urged to leave Benghazi over 'imminent threat'

And he has directed his Secretary of State, Secretary Clinton, to take action through the Accountability Review Board to look at security posture in Benghazi as well as Tripoli and elsewhere in the region.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

Essam al-Tajouri, a civil society activist from Benghazi, told me they need a constitution that guarantees the rights of their region to prosperity, education and health.

BBC: Slow rebirth for post-revolution Libya

And the fact of the matter is, back at the time, we were dealing with a situation that was not just limited to Libya and Benghazi, but where there was a series of events and unrest around the region.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Not simply the imminence of the threat to the population of Benghazi, but also the fact that there was a United Nations Security Council Resolution, support within the region not just for the resolution but enforcement of the resolution.

BBC: Transcript of Douglas Alexander interview