PARIS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- French President Francois Hollande said on Wednesday he can not confirm that any French nationals had been taken hostage after Islamists attacked a gas field in Algeria.
"At the moment I'm talking to you, a hostage-taking is under way in Algeria at an energy field, with a number of people taken hostage whose exact details we don't know, not even for the French nationals who may be concerned," said the president.
"I am in permanent contact with the Algerian authorities who are doing, and will do their duty. We are also in contact with the heads of state of the countries concerned," he said.
Islamists claimed they had kidnapped up to 41 foreigner workers in Amenas gas facility which is operated by a joint venture including British oil firm BP, Norwegian firm Statoil and Algerian state company Sonatrach.
According to Algerian News Agency (APS), the raiders killed two people, including a British.
The attack was said to be a retaliatory act against Algeria's support for the ongoing French military action against Islamist rebels in Mali.
Following his emergency decision to intervene in Mali, Hollande ignited revenge threats of al-Qaeda-affiliated cells who said he had put French safety at risk.
Photos: Cities and villages surrounded by pollution
Feedback
RSS
