what is this about the Libya attack went on for hrs?

Between two different locations separated by a few blocks. The entire 7 hrs wasn't a firefight, it was on and off.

There were a group of local militia who were supposed to provide some level of security but they disappeared into the ether when the attack started.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/10/world/la-fg-libya-us-guards-20121011

Two Libyan militiamen guarding the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi deny aiding the attackers. They say they initially fought back but fled when outnumbered.

Both are veterans of the ragtag revolutionary forces that toppled Moammar Kadafi. Over the last year, while assigned by their militia to help protect the U.S. mission in Benghazi, the pair had been drilled by American security personnel in using their weapons, securing entrances, climbing walls and waging hand-to-hand combat.

They were the "quick reaction force" for a compound that was also protected by about five armed Americans and five Libyan civilians hired through a British firm and equipped only with electric batons and handcuffs.

BTW that MSN report you posted from 9-12-2012 is 90% inaccurate lol.