LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Several American diplomatic missions in the Middle East to faced violent demonstrations after the release of an online film mocking Islam that depicted the Muslim prophet Mohammed as a child molester, womanizer and ruthless killer.

A London think tank proffered the idea that Stevens -the first U.S. diplomat to die violently in the line of fire since 1979, was actually the victim of a targeted al-Qaeda revenge attack.

The attack "came to avenge the death of Abu Yaya al-Libi, al Qaeda's second in command killed a few months ago," the Quilliam think tank said.

Described as "the work of roughly 20 militants, prepared for a military assault," the think tank noted that rocket-propelled grenade launchers do not normally appear at peaceful protests. There was also no other protests against the film elsewhere in Libya.

The attack on the consulate came in two waves, one which prompted U.S. officials to leave the consulate for a secure location. The second was directed at the place of retreat.

Obama strongly condemned the attack, which he called "outrageous . Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States," he said.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dispatched him to be the American link with the rebels in last year's rebellion.

"He arrived on a cargo ship in the port of Benghazi and began building our relationships with Libya's revolutionaries," she said. "He risked his life to stop a tyrant, and then gave his life trying to build a better Libya."

A second victim, identified as Sean Smith, was a Foreign Service information management officer who was a 10-year veteran of the State Department, a husband and a father of two.

The two other victims have not yet been named.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib apologized "to the American people and the government, and also to the rest of the world" for the "cowardly criminal act."

About 50 U.S. Marines from a rapid reaction force headed to Libya after the attack, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. mission is very badly damaged and was being looted, said a witness working at the mission, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

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