Some Hostages Still Unaccounted For After Assault At Sahara Gas Complex

Some Hostages Still Unaccounted For After Assault At Sahara Gas Complex

Twenty-two hostages have yet to be accounted for following the storming of the Sahara gas complex by Algerian forces in an effort to free the hostages from Islamist gunmen.

The assault was launched without the knowledge of Western leaders and resulted to the death of thirty hostages that included a number of Westerners. The Islamists took the Sahara gas complex in retaliation for the intervention by French forces in Mali.

Fourteen Japanese nationals have yet to be accounted for after the assault. A survivor of the Sahara gas complex assault reportedly saw four jeeps with hostages being blown up by Algerian forces. The attack on the Sahara gas complex by Islamist gunmen has left France and its allies in a quandary since they intervened in the Mali crisis. Questions were also raised on the capability of Algeria in protecting its energy resources. It has also damaged its relations with the West.

According to a diplomatic source, the situation is still fluid and there were no indications that it has ended. A number of nationalities were held hostage at a Sahara gas complex by a group called the Battalion of Blood.

A French national, two Japanese, and two Britons were included in the casualty list after the assault by Algerian forces at the Sahara gas complex.

The government of Algeria has indicated that it will be relentless with the Islamist guerillas even after the civil war that resulted to the death of around 200,000 people. Mohamed Said, the communications minister, reiterated the stand of government of not negotiating with the hostage takers at the Sahara gas complex.

For the moment no clear information was available on what happened to the Americans held by the Islamist gunmen at the Sahara gas complex.

The ease of the takeover of the Sahara gas complex by the gunmen raised questions on the security provided by the Algerian government on similar energy facilities of the country.

Posted by James Fried on Friday January 18 2013, 10:14 AM EST. Ref: Reuters. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0