The Islamist gunmen claiming to be holding 41 foreign workers hostage at a gas facility in south-east Algeria have demanded an "immediate end" to the French intervention in Mali, according to a statement published by Mauritania's ANI news agency.
"Our kouzwa (raid) is part of an international campaign to combat Jews and crusaders," an Islamist brigade affiliated to the al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb group, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, was quoted as saying, DPA reported.
"We hold the Algerian and French governments and the (other) hostages' countries fully responsible for the delay in satisfying our demands, chief among which is the immediate end to the attack on our (people) in Mali," it said.
"We hold the Algerian and French governments and the (other) hostages' countries fully responsible for the delay in satisfying our demands, chief among which is the immediate end to the attack on our (people) in Mali," it said.
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