Libyan officials said Thursday (September 13th) they had made arrests in the riots and attacks that led to the deaths of the US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens and three of his staff, AFP reported.

"The interior and justice ministries have begun their investigations and evidence gathering and some people have been arrested," Deputy Interior Minister Wanis al-Sharif told AFP.

The Minister said he could not give any details on the number of people arrested or who they were in order not to impede the investigation.

Abdelmonoem al-Horr, spokesperson for the Libyan interior ministry's security commission, told AFP that "all measures" were being taken to find those responsible and that "an independent judicial committee has been set up to carry out an inquiry."

Tuesday's attack is believed to have been motivated by anger over an online video that insulted Prophet Mohammed and Islam.

General National Congress president Mohamed al-Megarief held a joint press conference in Tripoli on Wednesday with outgoing Prime Minister Abdurrahim El Keib to speak out about the attack.

"This shameful act is completely against our Islamic faith, our genuine values and true Arab hospitality traditions," their joint statement said.

"We categorically reject the use of our soil as a theatre for dirty and cowardly retaliatory operations," the interim Libyan leader added. "Resorting to these dirty, cowardly acts that took place yesterday in Benghazi has nothing to do with defending God's Sharia and Prophet."

Abdallah Sharif, an engineer from Benghazi, expressed his surprise that the attacks were committed in the name of Islam. "Islam has nothing to do with these acts," he said.

"Islam prohibits Muslims from killing any foreigner under their protection or with whom they have treaties and agreements, such as diplomatic missions. There are a lot of Prophet Mohammed's hadiths which confirm this, including a famous hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari which says that the killer of a party to a covenant will not smell the scent of paradise."

Many Libyans took to the streets on Wednesday to condemn the consulate attack.

Bearing signs with slogans such as "Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans" and "Thugs and killers don't represent Benghazi nor Islam", the demonstrators marched simultaneously in Algeria Square in Tripoli and al-Shajara Square in Benghazi and denounced the use of weapons and violence.