Algerian army surrounds hostage-takers (relates to Mali)

[No Elephants]

Algerian army surrounds hostage-takers

Troops surround gas facility where dozens of workers are held by fighters demanding an end to French operations in Mali

The Algerian army has surrounded a natural gas complex where armed fighters are holding a group of foreign workers, after at least two people were killed in a raid near a southern Algerian gas field.

About 20 gunmen are believed to have been behind the attack, which was apparently in retaliation against France's intervention in Mali.

Thirty Algerian workers reportedly escaped from the desert gas facility on Thursday, Reuters news agency quoted the country's official APS news agency as saying.

<snip>


Forty-one Westerners including seven Americans, French, British and Japanese citizens have been taken hostage," the spokesperson said.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/01/2013116154848726750.html

[Enthusiast]

1. Hostage taking will not help their cause in Mali.

The gunmen will die.

[No Elephants]

2. England was told to be prepared for bad news about the hostages.