Hostage siege at Algeria gas plant not over

 

The remote desert gas facility is not far from the Libyan border

Algeria hostages

Islamist militants are continuing to hold a number of hostages at a gas facility in the Algerian desert.

At least four hostages and a number of militants were killed on Thursday when troops stormed the living quarters.
The militants had claimed to be holding 41 foreigners. At least four were freed but the fate of many others is unknown.
BP said hundreds of workers from international oil companies had been evacuated from Algeria on Thursday and that many more would follow.

Algeria has yet to give precise casualty figures from the rescue attempt.

The state-run APS news agency cited local officials as saying two Britons and two Filipinos were killed. Two others, a Briton and an Algerian, died on Wednesday when the militants ambushed a bus that was taking foreign workers at the facility to the local airport.
A spokesman for the militants told the Mauritanian ANI news agency that 35 hostages and 15 militants had been killed in Thursday's operation. One Algerian official said the figures were "exaggerated".
The In Amenas gas field is operated by the Algerian state oil company, Sonatrach, along with the British oil company BP and Norway's Statoil.
It is situated at Tigantourine, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of the town of In Amenas and 1,300km (800 miles) south-east of Algiers.
'Hiding under bed' On Friday morning, the UK Foreign Office and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said they believed the incident was ongoing.

David Cameron tells MPs that the number of British citizens at risk has been “significantly reduced”

"Parts of the plant are under Algerian authorities' control, and other parts are not. This information is changing by the hour," Mr Eide told the BBC.
APS cited local officials as saying the military operation at the gas facility's living quarters, where most of the hostages were held, had ended on Thursday night.
"Hostages are still being held at the Tigantourine gas treatment plant, which is surrounded by special forces," APS added.

Foreign citizens involved

• Fourteen Japanese missing
• Eight Norwegians missing
• Significantly fewer than 30 Britons missing; two Britons (from Scotland) believed to be safe
• Unknown number of Americans
• Possibly citizens of Romania, Thailand, the Philippines, Colombia, South Korea and Austria
• Two French citizens safe
• One Irish citizen from Northern Ireland safe
• One Kenyan safe

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he had been told by his Algerian counterpart that security forces were "still pursuing terrorists and possibly some of the hostages".

"They are now looking at all possible routes to resolve this crisis," he added.
Mr Cameron also revealed that on Thursday night, the number of British citizens at risk was fewer than 30, but that it had now been "quite significantly reduced".
Japanese officials were meanwhile cited as saying by the Kyodo news agency that at least 14 Japanese nationals were still missing. At least three managed to escape.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, expressed "deep regret" at the actions of the Algerian security forces and its foreign ministry summoned the Algerian ambassador.
Despite requests for communication and pleas to consider the hostages' safety, the UK, Japan and US said they had not been told in advance about the military assault.
Mr Cameron said the Algerian prime minister had told him that commanders had "judged there to be an immediate threat to the lives of the hostages and had felt obliged to respond".
Algerian Communications Minister Mohand Said Oubelaid said: "Those who think we will negotiate with terrorists are delusional."
Norway said eight of its nationals were currently unaccounted for. One is being treated at a hospital in In Amenas, while four escaped unharmed.
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said two French workers were safe. It was unclear if another two were involved, he added.

Ireland's Deputy PM described hostage Stephen McFaul's escape as a ''truly horrific'' experience

The Irish government confirmed that one of its citizens was free. Five Americans had survived and left the country, US officials told ABC News.
APS said about 600 local workers had been freed in the raid, but many were reportedly allowed to leave on Wednesday by the militants.
A worker from CIS Catering, which employs about 150 Algerians at the facility, told French media he had hidden under the bed in his room for 40 hours before being rescued.
"I put boards everywhere. I had food, water, and I did not know how long I would stay there."

Mokhtar Belmokhtar

• Fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan in late 1980s
• Former leading figure in al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb. Left in late 2012 after falling out with leaders
• Now heads the Khaled Abu al-Abbas Brigade and the Signed-in-Blood Battalion
• Known as "The One-Eyed" as he wears an eyepatch over a lost eye
• French intelligence has dubbed him "The Uncatchable", while locals refer to him as "Mister Marlboro" for his illicit cigarettes operation

"When the soldiers came to get me, I did not even know it was over. They were with colleagues, otherwise I would never have opened the door," he added.

A statement purporting to come from the kidnappers says the raid was carried out in retaliation for the French intervention against Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), in neighbouring Mali.
But BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera says the kidnapping was a complex operation which is unlikely to have been planned and carried out since the surprising French intervention in Mali last Friday.
Mr Oubelaid said the militants were intent on "destabilising Algeria, embroiling it in the Mali conflict and damaging its natural gas infrastructure."
Algerian officials said they were operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who was a senior AQIM commander until late last year.
On Friday morning, a spokesman for al-Mulathameen (The Brigade of the Masked Ones) told ANI that it would carry out further operations. He warned Algerians to "stay away from the installations of foreign companies as we will strike where it is least expected".

Mali army 'regains Konna' as Nigerian troops arrive

 

Mali's army has struggled to take on the rebels who are believed to be well armed

Mali: Divided nation

Mali's army has recaptured Konna after Islamist rebels fled, the military and residents in the strategically important central town have said.

France began its intervention in Mali a week ago because of the rebel takeover of the town north of the capital.
Earlier this week, French officials denied a claim by the Malian army that the government had regained Konna.
Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency says it fears the fighting could force 700,000 people from their homes.
Some 150,000 people have already gone to neighbouring countries, Reuters news agency reports .
It quotes the UNHCR as saying that 400,000 more could flee Mali, with a further 300,000 displaced within the country.
The first 100 troops of an African force landed in the capital, Bamako on Thursday evening.

The soldiers from Togo and Nigeria are part of a long-planned West African force that will join the French and Malian armies in fighting the Islamist insurgents who took over northern Mali last year.

Nigeria says it will increase its forces to 1,200.
On Thursday, France said it was increasing its troop strength to 1,400 after intervening initially with air strikes to try to halt a rapid advance by the Islamists.
Correspondents say a strong French contingent is at Segou, north-east of Bamako, to guard a major bridge across the Niger river, which the rebels would have to cross to threaten the capital.
'Street fighting' Bamako-based journalist Kodji Siby told BBC Africa that he had spoken to residents in Konna, about 550km (340 miles) north of Bamako, who said the Islamists fled the town when Malian soldiers deployed.

Foreign forces in Mali

• Some 1,400 French troops in Mali, 900 troops involved elsewhere in Africa
• French Mirage and Rafale jets, Gazelle helicopters
• Chad to send 2,000 troops
• Nigeria to send 1,200 troops; Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo expected to send 500 each, and Benin 300
• Ghana, Guinea and Chad also to send troops
• UK providing two C17 cargo planes for French effort
• Belgium and Denmark also sending transport planes
• US to provide communications help

"We have wrested total control of Konna after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy," the AFP news agency quoted a Malian army statement as saying.

The area is not accessible to independent observers. The aid group Doctors Without Borders told the Associated Press it had been trying to get to Konna since Monday but all roads leading to the area were closed by the Malian military.
On Thursday, French forces were bombarding the town of Diabaly, 350km from capital, which was captured by Islamists earlier in the week.
There was fighting on the streets until 03:00 GMT on Friday, Diabaly Mayor Oumar Diakite said from nearby Niono.
In total, 3,300 regional troops will be deployed in the conflict under a UN Security Council resolution.
Defence sources say France is likely to boost its troop numbers to 2,500.
Nigeria will lead the West African force, with Chad, Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo also sending soldiers.
Islamist groups and secular Tuareg rebels took advantage of chaos following a military coup to seize northern Mali in April 2012. But the Islamists soon took control of the region's major towns, sidelining the Tuaregs.

Pakistan PM probe police officer found dead

 

The man was found dead in his hostel in Islamabad

One of the police officers investigating a corruption case in Pakistan linked to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has been found dead.

Reports say the man, Kamran Faisal, was found hanged in the government hostel in Islamabad where he lived with colleagues.
The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Mr Ashraf on Tuesday over allegations he accepted bribes when approving power generation projects as minister for water and power in 2010.
He denies the allegations.
Police said they were investigating whether Mr Kamran had killed himself, and that an autopsy would be carried out.
"We are investigating from different angles... We will establish an opinion after the autopsy," said Islamabad police chief Bani Amin.
The order to arrest Mr Ashraf came as a populist cleric led thousands of protesters in a march and sit-in in Islamabad.
Tahirul Qadri and his supporters were demanding the government resign ahead of elections due in May.
The government has since reached a deal with cleric, agreeing to dissolve parliament before 16 March, but the events have raised fears of a political crisis in Pakistan.
Analysts say Mr Ashraf is unlikely to be arrested imminently.
The head of the NAB, Fasih Bokhari had refused to carry out the arrest, saying there was not enough evidence to justify it.

Suarez dive admission 'unacceptable'

By ESPN staff

Rodgers anger with Suarez dive confession

At a time when coming clean in sport doesn't necessarily draw forgiveness, Luis Suarez has learned that owning up to mistakes doesn't get you out of trouble.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has described Luis Suarez's admission of diving as "unacceptable'' and said the Uruguayan forward would be "dealt with internally".

Suarez has gained a reputation as a player who will go further than many other players to gain an advantage on the field since coming to the Premier League in January 2011, and has been accused of simulation on several occasions.
The Uruguay international admitted this week that he 'invented' a foul during a match with Stoke last year, and his manager Brendan Rodgers has stated that the player could now be subject to club disciplinary procedures.
"I've seen the comments late last night and this morning and I think it's wrong," he told a press conference. "Certainly from our perspective it is unacceptable. It will be dealt with internally so there are no issues there. It's [diving] not something we advocate here.
"There's nobody bigger than the club and the club's image and our ethics are correct. For us it's an internal thing and I've spoken to Luis about it. Luis has been totally understanding and knows where I am coming from as the manager of the club. This is a big club, which is bigger than anyone and whatever people say is out there and goes around the world. What was said was wrong and is not acceptable. He takes that and we move on."
When asked whether it would make it difficult to deal with future questions over Suarez's diving, and whether Rodgers would defend his player, the manager was bullish.
"It makes it straightforward," he added. "I've always approached things openly and honestly in how I have seen it and I think there has been many occasions when he has not had the rewards for that.
"It doesn't help him, it doesn't help the team, but the key thing for me is that it's not about Luis Suarez it's about the team. We have a brilliant group of players here and anything that is detrimental to that is something I don't take too lightly. That is something I feel has affected that, and that was the clear message, so we'll deal with it in house and we'll be fine."
Suarez had told Fox Sports in Argentina that he had "invented" a foul against Stoke, but that his reputation was exploited by the media.
"I don't listen all the nonsense some people say about me," he said. "I'm accused of cheating here. People say I throw myself all the time inside the box.
"Let's see: they said that when we played against Stoke, for instance, and in that case they were right. I invented a foul because we were drawing 1-1 against Stoke and I wanted to win.
"Sometimes on the pitch I say to myself: 'What have I done?' But the name of Suarez sells papers."

Milan begin talks over Kaka move

By Adam Digby, Italy Correspondent

AC Milan have announced that they have begun negotiations with Real Madrid over the possibility of Kaka returning on loan.

GettyImagesKaka could be on his way back to Milan

The club’s official Milan Channel said the 30-year-old Brazilian and his representatives met Rossoneri officials on Thursday and confirmed that Milan president Silvio Berlusconi and Madrid’s Florentino Perez have begun to discuss potential terms.
The news comes a day after Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said any move for Kaka, who won the 2007 Ballon d’Or whilst with the Serie A giants, was “impossible because of his wages.
Kaka played for the Rossoneri from 2003 to 2009 before moving to Real for €68.5 million.
Since then, however, he has struggled to find his best form, undergoing surgery on his knee and falling victim to a string of injuries.
He has made just seven league appearances under Jose Mourinho this term and told Sky Italia he hoped Real and Milan could agree a deal.
“A future for me at Milan? I have a contract at Real Madrid, but the present situation is not good for me or Real,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m at the club's disposal, but the two sides have to come to an agreement. I’m still very thankful to Milan - I love the city and I have many friends here. I’m open to any solution, and I’ve already told this to Real Madrid.”
Galliani told Sky Sport Italia on Thursday: “I have no news to give you today. It’s true, I was very, very pleased with Kaka’s words. There is contact with Real Madrid, but at the moment I haven’t got any news for you.”
Asked if a deal was possible, he replied: “It will be difficult, very difficult. How hard will I try? We’ll see.”

First Nigerian troops to join anti-rebel operation in Mali

The BBC's Andrew Harding says French troops have been welcomed by people in the capital

Mali: Divided nation

Close to 200 Nigerian troops are due to arrive in Mali to help fight Islamist insurgents in the country's north.

It is the first West African contingent to join France's anti-rebel operation launched in Mali on Friday.
In total, 3,300 regional troops will be deployed in the conflict under a UN Security Council resolution. Chad has confirmed it will send 2,000 troops.
Meanwhile French and Malian forces have started the first major ground operation against the militants.
Sources say street battles broke out between soldiers and rebels in the town of Diabaly, 350km (220 miles) north of the capital Bamako on Wednesday.

Continue reading the main story

French special forces in Mali

• 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, the only cavalry unit in the Foreign Legion
• Based in Orange, in France's southeastern Vaucluse department, since 1967
• Formed in 1921 in Tunisia, partly from White Russian legionnaires
• Expert in desert warfare, saw action in Indochina, Algeria and First Gulf War

Islamists entered Diabaly on Monday, taking the town from Malian forces. French fighter jets have since attacked the rebel position.

Limited support A company of 190 Nigerian soldiers will be flown from the northern city of Kaduna into Mali on Thursday, the BBC's Will Ross in Kaduna reports.
Nigeria will lead the West African regional force. It has promised to send a total of 900 troops as well as fighter jets.
Chad has also confirmed 2,000 soldiers will join the anti-rebel operation in Mali.
"We intend to send an infantry regiment and two support battalions," Chadian Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat told Radio France Internationale.
Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo have also pledged to take part.

French President Francois Hollande: "Our mission is to secure Mali's territorial integrity"

France intervened in Mali last Friday to try to halt the Islamists' push southwards towards the capital.
It has some 800 troops on the ground in Mali and defence sources said their numbers were expected to increase to 2,500.
However, France has been pushing hard for the deployment of a West African regional force.
The arrival of the first Nigerian troops should bring some relief to French soldiers who are only getting limited support from the fairly weak Malian army, our correspondent says.
It is not yet known exactly what role the West African troops will play or how well prepared they are for what is likely to be a very challenging ground assault against the Islamist militants, he adds.
The UK has provided transport planes, and on Wednesday Germany gave two transport planes as logistical support.

Denis Allex: French agent 'killed' by Somalia al-Shabab

 

France says it believes Denis Allex was killed in Friday's commando raid

The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab says it has killed French intelligence agent Denis Allex in retaliation for a failed French operation to free him.

The French government has said it believes Mr Allex was killed during last week's raid, in which two French commandos also died.
Mr Allex - a French spy - was kidnapped in Somalia in July 2009.
Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, said on its Twitter account that Mr Allex had been killed on Wednesday.
Al-Shabab had earlier threatened to kill Mr Allex and said that because of the rescue attempt, France would be responsible for his death.
The group has also cited France's intervention against Islamists in Mali in its decision to kill Mr Allex.
On Friday, about 50 French commandos launched an assault by helicopter on the al-Shabab stronghold of Bulo Marer, believing Mr Allex was being held in the town.
Al-Shabab said it had advance warning of the attack and Mr Allex - a codename for the French intelligence agent - was not in Bulo Marer at the time.
France says 17 militants were killed during the fighting, which witnesses said was intense and lasted for at least an hour.
Several civilians were reported to have been killed in the clashes.

Al-Shabab said it has taken the decision to execute their hostage to avenge the civilians killed during the French operation.
France said it launched the mission after repeated attempts to negotiate Mr Allex's release failed.
Somalia's government said it had no prior knowledge of the raid and it regretted the loss of civilian lives.
On Monday, al-Shabab published a photograph of a French soldier who the group said had died of gunshot wounds after being captured during the raid.
France has a large military base in neighbouring Djibouti, including army, marine and air force units.
For more than 20 years Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battling for control of the country.
Last year, MPs elected a new president in a process backed by the UN.
Over the last 18 months, African Union forces working with Somali government troops have pushed the al-Shabab militants out of the major towns they controlled in central and southern Somalia.
But the group still controls a large area, including many smaller towns.