Former CIA director David Petraeus will testify before the House Intelligence committee on events that led to the death of the US ambassador and three other Americans in an attack on the US Consulate at Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, according to Belfast Telegraph.

Spokesmen for the committee said the hearing will be closed to the public.

Mr Petraeus resigned from the CIA last week after acknowledging an extramarital affair.

The liaison was discovered during an FBI investigation of harassing emails allegedly sent by Mr Petraeus' biographer and mistress, Paula Broadwell, to Tampa socialite Jill Kelley. Ms Broadwell allegedly saw Ms Kelley as a rival.

The probe expanded to include Ms Kelley's copious communications with the top US commander In Afghanistan, Marine General John Allen.