Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton lead tribute to four Americans killed in Benghazi Mrs Clinton called on Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen - countries where dictatorial leaders were ousted by the revolutions of the Arab Spring - not to trade the "tyranny of dictatorship for the tyranny of the mob." Mr Obama was assuming his role as commander in chief as Republican challenger Mitt Romney campaigned to close out perhaps the stormiest week of his campaign for the presidency. The protesters were in the streets to voice outrage over a US-made film that denigrated the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. As demonstrations targeting US embassies in the Arab world spread on Friday, the Republican ticket was trying again to make points for its argument that Obama was conducting an apologetic and weak foreign policy. "American foreign policy needs moral clarity and firmness of purpose," Mr Romney running mate Rep. Paul Ryan said in a speech at the conservative Values Voter Summit in Washington. Look across that region today, and what do we see? Mr Ryan asked. The slaughter of brave dissidents in Syria. Mobs storming American embassies and consulates. Iran four years closer to gaining a nuclear weapon. Israel, our best ally in the region, treated with indifference bordering on contempt by the Obama administration.