An independent U.S. panel investigating the September 11 attack in Libya that resulted in the deaths of four Americans has concluded that security at the Benghazi mission was "grossly inadequate."
The Accountability Review Board says senior-level "systematic failures and management deficiencies" within two State Department bureaus led to a security posture that was inadequate to deal with the attack at the site.
In a report released late Tuesday, the board also said the number of diplomatic security staff members in Benghazi on the day of the attack was "inadequate," in spite of repeated requests from diplomats in Libya for additional staffing.
The board made a number of recommendations, including developing minimum security standards for temporary facilities in high-risk areas.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that she accepted the panel's findings. In a letter to U.S. lawmakers, Clinton said she was working to improve security at diplomatic facilities.
The four Americans killed in the attack included Ambassador Christopher Stephens, in what was the first murder of a U.S. ambassador since 1988.