Obama speaks with Libyan, Egyptian presidents

US President Barack Obama. AP FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON  — The White House says President Barack Obama has called the presidents of Libya and Egypt and urged them to continue working with the United States to ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel.

Obama thanked Libyan President Mohamed Magariaf for his condolences over the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other State Department officers during an assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi Tuesday. The White House says the two leaders agreed to work together to bring the attackers to justice.

During a second call Tuesday, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi promised Egypt “would honor its obligation to ensure the safety of American personnel,” the White House said.

Obama told Morsi that while “he rejects efforts to denigrate Islam … there is never any justification for violence against innocents.”