Clinton off to Peru amid Libya questions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has taken off for Peru to talk women’s empowerment amid a political drama in Washington over the handling of last month’s deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Clinton left Monday for the long-planned event in Lima after a weekend of more criticism from Republicans over the Obama administration’s initial explanation of the Sept. 11 attack and security at the consulate where the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans died.

Republicans have seized on the attack as a sign of weakness in President Barack Obama’s foreign policy. They accuse the administration of mishandling security at the consulate and then misrepresenting the nature of the attack.

Clinton has vowed a full and open investigation into the incident. She returns to Washington Tuesday.