Reports: Bloodbath in Algeria as Army Attacks Hostage-Takers

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/17-1

Reports from Algeria Thursday morning paint a picture of a bloodbath after the military there attempted a raid on a group of militants who had taken hostages, including many westerners, at a remote gas plant.

Al-Jazeera reports:

At least 35 hostages and 15 captors have been killed in a siege at a southern Algerian gas field.

The group was being transported from one part of the complex to another, when they came under attack from the Algerian army. The lead hostage-taker is also among the dead.
Reuters adds:

A Mauritanian news agency that has been in constant contact with kidnappers holding dozens of Western hostages in Algeria reported on Thursday that 34 of the captives had been killed in air strikes.

[Renew Deal]

1. Is the moral of the story "don't mess with Algeria" or

"Don't mess with the gas industry?"

Why would thy bomb hostages? I hope they at least took care of the kidnappers.

[malaise]

2. There's another story that most of the hostages escaped

Guess we'll know the truth later

[panader0]

3. Not a very "surgical" strike.

The Algerian government said they do not negotiate and I guess they meant it.

[Puzzledtraveller]

4. Model of efficiency no?

[pinboy3niner]

5. Reuters: Six hostages, 8 kidnappers killed in Algeria siege; 7 still held

By Lamine Chikhi

ALGIERS | Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:35am EST

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Six foreign hostages and eight of their captors were killed when Algerian forces fired on a vehicle being used by besieged gunmen at a gas plant in the remote Algerian desert on Thursday, a local source told Reuters.

Mauritania's ANI news agency, which has been in constant contact with the kidnappers, said seven hostages were still being held: two Americans, three Belgians, one Japanese and one British citizen.

...


An Algerian security source said 25 foreign hostages had escaped alive. The local source in the town who gave the death toll in the strike said 180 Algerian hostages had also managed to flee.

...


http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-sahara-crisis-idUSBRE90F1JJ20130117

[TwilightGardener]

6. Algerians--not who you want to rescue you.

[pinboy3niner]

7. The Guardian is live-blogging developments here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2013/jan/17/algerian-islamists-hostages-standoff-live

[xchrom]

8. +1

[malaise]

11. Thanks pinboy3niner n/t

[pscot]

9. Does it seem like this debacle is being linked

to our latest "force projection" in Mali? The media seem to be conflating the two events to drum up support for our new land war in Africa; manufacturing consent, as it were.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Reports: Military operation has concluded; 7 foreigners among 30 hostages killed

Reuters:

• 11 militants killed in Algeria hostage situation, source says
• Source: Among the dead militants are 3 Egyptians, 2 Algerians
• Source: 30 hostages, including 7 foreigners, are dead
• Source: Deceased hostages include 2 Japanese, 2 Britons, 1 French national
• APS: Algerian hostage situation at gas plant is over

http://live.reuters.com/Event/Mali_Conflict