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Hostage Crisis Ends in Algeria yet
Posted on Friday, January 18, 2013
Hostage Crisis Ends in Algeria yet
Algiers, KOMPAS.com - dozens of foreigners hostage crisis in Algeria has not ended. Although the Algerian army has been conducting a military operation to free the hostages, who captured the militant group Al Qaeda's wing, the fate of the victims are not yet certain.
As of Friday (1/18/2013), different statements presented different parties have screwed up understanding of the events and the ire of Western leaders.
The Algerian government has said the offensive against the militants has ended. However, the Foreign Office said: "The incident is still ongoing terrorist." No further details on the allegations.
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said the situation remains murky and not sure.
Algerian officials earlier said six hostage taker and eight militiamen were killed in the attack Thursday. Another source said the 25 hostages escaped and 4 others have been released.
The Associated Press (AP) said that six people were killed, including a Briton, the Philippines and Algeria.
However, the perpetrator claims, at least 34 hostages have been killed in the Algerian army on Thursday.
The hostages of Ireland and Norway are reported to have fled from In Amenas. However, dozens are still missing, namely the hostages from the U.S., UK, France, Norway, Romania, Malaysia, Japan, Algeria, and the militia itself.
"The situation is evolving and many details Another was unclear. However, the responsibility for the tragic events of the last two days remain in the hands of the terrorists chose to attack innocent workers, killing several people, and others hostage, "said British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
citizen survivors
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that there was an Indonesian citizens among the hostages. However, citizen named Andri Ansari, who worked at the BP oil exploration companies, got away.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene, Andrew was flown to London, England, the company that since last Thursday and will be sent home to Indonesia in the near future.
Malaysian news agency, Bernama, quoted Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who confirmed that there are two Malaysian citizens among the hostages.
Anifah said he had asked the Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci to ensure the freedom and safety of two citizens of Malaysia.
Algerian military, which has a lot of experience of combating militant groups, rejecting offers of foreign aid. Only those who perform the operation to control the release of the hostages and information to the public, even to Western leaders.
Strong in the state of life
Japanese Vice Foreign Minister summoned Algerian ambassador to Japan on Friday, and asked that the Algerian liberation prioritize citizens alive.
Prime Minister (PM) of Japan Shinzo Abe shorten his visit to Indonesia to urgently address this hostage crisis. In a press conference after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace on Friday afternoon, Abe condemned terrorism in Algeria. According to him, terrorism should not be allowed. "We will continue to fight against terrorism," he said.
Abe added, the Government of Japan in cooperation with other concerned parties to obtain information as possible about what is happening in Algeria. He asked Algeria to make the protection of victims as a priority.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta admitted that he had coordinated with Britain and Algeria to map the situation on the ground and tried to free the hostages are safe.
Earlier, the U.S. government has sent an unmanned aircraft to monitor the situation in the gas fields located in the interior of the Sahara Desert, some 1,200 kilometers from the capital Algiers. There are no reports that observation.
Escape
The militia, estimated at about 20 people, invaded In Amenas gas fields operated jointly by BP, Statoil (Norway), and Sonatrach (Algeria), on Wednesday. Algerian security forces immediately surrounded the location of the hostage moved.
On Thursday, Algerian troops descended. The attack reportedly involving helicopter gunships. Algiers said it crackdown since the militant group tried to escape with the hostages.
Algerian Government's decision was unfortunate countries where the hostages are. Britain, U.S. and several other countries expressed simply not informed beforehand about the plan of attack.
British Prime Minister David Cameron to twice call PM Algerian Abdelmalek Sellal, insisted that any action be consulted first with the state- country of origin of the hostages.
Algerian Interior Minister Dahou Ould Kablia said the militants from their own country, instead of Mali or Libya. The group is calling itself the "Battalion of Blood", which is headed by one of the al Qaeda leader in North Africa (AQIM), Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Strong (DWA / ATO / AFP / AP / REUTERS / CAL)
