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Tuesday, Nov 27, 2012 5:14 PM UTC

Susan Rice fails to win over Senate critics

After a private meeting, John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte are "more troubled"

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Topics: Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Susan Rice, Kelly Ayotte, Benhgazi,

Susan Rice fails to win over Senate critics(Credit: AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Three Republican senators who met Tuesday with U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice say they are more troubled now over her initial explanations about the deadly Sept. 11 raid in Libya.

Rice met behind closed doors Tuesday with Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte — three of her harshest critics.

Ayotte said Rice told them that her national television description that a spontaneous demonstration triggered the attack on the U.S. consulate was wrong. She had made the comments five days after the raid based on intelligence information.

The lawmakers said the Obama administration still must answer questions about the attack.

Obama is considering Rice as a successor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

After the meeting, according to reports, Ayotte told reporters that “it’s certainly clear from the beginning that we knew that those with ties to al-Qaida were involved in the attack on the embassy. And clearly the impression that was given of the information given to the American people was wrong. In fact, Ambassador Rice said today, absolutely, it was wrong.”

She also said, “I have many more questions that need to be answered.”

More Associated Press.

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