In a standoff deep in the Sahara desert, the Algerian army ringed a natural gas complex
where Islamist militants were holed up with dozens of hostages last night, after a
rare attack that appeared to be the first violent shock wave from the French intervention
in Mali.
A militant group that claimed responsibility said 41 foreigners were
being held after the assault on one of oil-rich Algeria's energy facilities. Two foreigners
were killed in the attack.
A group claiming responsibility said the attack
was in revenge for Algeria's support of France's military operation against al-Qaida-linked
rebels in neighboring Mali.
Worldwide condemnation of the attack was swift,
with British Foreign Secretary William Hague saying there is no excuse for cold-blooded
murder. "This is an absolute tragedy, of course, in this dangerous and rapidly developing
situation. The next-of-kin have been informed and the government's COBRA emergency
system is in full operation. I have spoken to our ambassador in Algeria and dispatched
a to Algeria to strengthen our embassy there and help them in their work. Excuses
being used by terrorists and murderers who are involved . . . there is no excuse for
such behaviour, whatever excuse they may claim. It is absolutely unacceptable of course.
It is, in this case, the cold-blooded murder of people going about their business.
So there is no excuse, whether it be connected to Libya, Mali, or anywhere else."