US speaks out against Algeria attack

Algeria attack: US has condemned attack on oil workers

Kjetil Alsvik/Statoil

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By Staff and news reports

 16 January 2013 19:33 GMT

US defence secretary Leon Panetta has condemned an attack by militants on a natural gas facility in Algeria in which American nationals were among the captured, according to reports.

Panetta called the event a “terrorist attack” in remarks to reporters in Italy, according to the Associated Press.

"I want to assure the American people that the United States will take all necessary and proper steps that are required to deal with this situation," he said according to news reports.

An Al-Qaeda-linked group, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming the action came in retaliation for Algeria's support of French military intervention in Mali aimed at subduing militants there.

Two people are reported killed…

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