David Cameron has postponed his speech on the European Union because of the hostage situation in Algeria where a standoff has been taking place in a gas plant in the Sahara Desert. There are conflicting reports, but it seems about 300 Algerian and 40 international hostages were taken and several have been killed in a rescue attempt. The PM has suggested that worse news will follow saying:-
‘We should be prepared for the possibility of further bad news in this very dangerous fluid situation.’
No10 said earlier that Cameron had not been informed about the Algerian rescue attempt before it began and has told his Algerian counterpart that he wishes he had been “contacted in advance”. The Japanese government has asked the Algerians to desist. The siege appears to have been led by an al-Qaeda splinter group, claiming to have come from Mali, whose leader is reported to have been killed – but no details have been confirmed.
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