Algeria Launches 'Final Assault' on Islamists Holding Foreign Hostages
Algeria's official APS news agency says the country's special forces have launched a "final assault" on Islamists who have been holding hostages at a gas complex in the Algerian desert.
APS reports the special forces have killed 11 al-Qaida linked terrorists in Saturday's assault. Sources say kidnappers have killed seven foreign hostages, although it is not clear at this time whether the toll is including or in addition to the 12 Algerians and foreigners already reported dead.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Washington "will take all necessary steps" to protect Americans from the threat of militants in Algeria and elsewhere in the region.
Discussing the hostage crisis in Algeria, Panetta told British television in London Saturday that the United States will help other countries in preventing Islamist militants from setting up a base in the region. He said the goal is to prevent al-Qaida "from conducting the kind of terrorist acts" now taking place in Algeria.
On Friday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she is "deeply concerned" about the ongoing hostage crisis, and called on the Algerian government to do everything in its power to save lives.
She made the comments amid reports from Algerian state media that at least 12 Algerians and foreigners had died after an assault by the Algerian army.
U.S. officials confirmed late Friday that one American, Frederick Buttaccio, was among the dead.
Earlier, Algeria's state news agency said nearly 100 foreign hostages seized by Islamist militants Wednesday had been freed, with more than 30 others still unaccounted for.
The Algerian news agency reported that militants kidnapped 132 foreign hostages in their raid at a natural gas complex in eastern Algeria Wednesday.
It was not clear whether the hostages reported to be freed were rescued by the Algerian army or released by their captors, and there has been no Western confirmation of the report.
The hostages at the site were believed to include nationals from the U.S., Britain, Japan, Norway, Romania, the Philippines, France, Malaysia and Austria. The gas complex is jointly run by Algerian, British and Norwegian firms.
Officials in the U.S., Britain and other countries have said they are seeking information about developments at the plant, while expressing regret Algeria did not inform them in advance about the military operation.
In France, French Interior Minister Manuel Valls also raised concerns about militant groups and links to Europe.
``For years, there have been French jihadis who have gone to fight a war in Afghanistan, in Syria, and a very small handful in the Sahel," Valls said. "They are obviously being watched by our intelligence agencies.''
The militants say they attacked the facility in retaliation for French military operations in Mali.
fuente. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/algeria-launches-final-assault-on-hostage-takers/1587078.html
APS reports the special forces have killed 11 al-Qaida linked terrorists in Saturday's assault. Sources say kidnappers have killed seven foreign hostages, although it is not clear at this time whether the toll is including or in addition to the 12 Algerians and foreigners already reported dead.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Washington "will take all necessary steps" to protect Americans from the threat of militants in Algeria and elsewhere in the region.
Discussing the hostage crisis in Algeria, Panetta told British television in London Saturday that the United States will help other countries in preventing Islamist militants from setting up a base in the region. He said the goal is to prevent al-Qaida "from conducting the kind of terrorist acts" now taking place in Algeria.
On Friday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she is "deeply concerned" about the ongoing hostage crisis, and called on the Algerian government to do everything in its power to save lives.
She made the comments amid reports from Algerian state media that at least 12 Algerians and foreigners had died after an assault by the Algerian army.
U.S. officials confirmed late Friday that one American, Frederick Buttaccio, was among the dead.
Earlier, Algeria's state news agency said nearly 100 foreign hostages seized by Islamist militants Wednesday had been freed, with more than 30 others still unaccounted for.
The Algerian news agency reported that militants kidnapped 132 foreign hostages in their raid at a natural gas complex in eastern Algeria Wednesday.
It was not clear whether the hostages reported to be freed were rescued by the Algerian army or released by their captors, and there has been no Western confirmation of the report.
The hostages at the site were believed to include nationals from the U.S., Britain, Japan, Norway, Romania, the Philippines, France, Malaysia and Austria. The gas complex is jointly run by Algerian, British and Norwegian firms.
Officials in the U.S., Britain and other countries have said they are seeking information about developments at the plant, while expressing regret Algeria did not inform them in advance about the military operation.
In France, French Interior Minister Manuel Valls also raised concerns about militant groups and links to Europe.
``For years, there have been French jihadis who have gone to fight a war in Afghanistan, in Syria, and a very small handful in the Sahel," Valls said. "They are obviously being watched by our intelligence agencies.''
The militants say they attacked the facility in retaliation for French military operations in Mali.
fuente. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/algeria-launches-final-assault-on-hostage-takers/1587078.html
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