WASHINGTON DC – The United States told the U.N. Security Council early Wednesday that the suspected ringleader of a deadly 2012 attack on its diplomatic compound in Benghazi was planning more terrorist attacks specifically targeting Americans.
That alone justified his capture, U.S. authorities said.
In a letter obtained by Reuters early Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, notified the council of the capture on Sunday of Ahmed Abu Khatallah by U.S. special forces in Libya after an investigation identified him as a key figure in the 2012 attack that killed four Americans.

The investigation also determined that he continued to plan further armed attacks against U.S. persons,” Power wrote in the letter dated Tuesday.
“The measures we have taken to capture Abu Khatalla in Libya were therefore necessary to prevent such armed attacks, and were taken in accordance with the United States’ inherent right of self-defense,” she wrote.
Power said the United States was reporting the capture of Khatalla to the Security Council under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which requires that the body be notified immediately of measures taken by states in self-defense against armed attack.
The brief letter also said Khatalla would be presented to U.S. Federal Court for criminal prosecution.
There was also dispute late early Wednesday over whether Khatalla had been read his Miranda rights — a particular issue for conservatives who believe terrorists should not be treated as criminal suspects but as prisoners in a war.
Khatalla was read his Miranda rights shortly after being apprehended, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was told he had a right to remain silent and have legal counsel present during interrogations.   (continue reading)