ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT—Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the U.S. has been looking into the arrests of two Tunisian men being detained in Turkey reportedly in connection with attacks on a consulate in Libya last month. And he says he's unsure of any links between al-Qaida and the two Tunisians.

Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died in the attack on a U.S. diplomatic post Sept. 11. Speaking to reporters on a military plane traveling to Peru Friday, Panetta said it was too early to tell what the connection may be.

The New York Times quoted American officials who said they were awaiting more information from the Turkish authorities, and it remained unclear whether the two men arrested Wednesday were considered suspects or witnesses in the violent attack in Benghazi.