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Japan summons Algerian ambassador over hostage crisis

Japan summons Algerian ambassador over hostage crisis
Japan has summoned the Algerian ambassador to provide clarifications over hostage-taking crisis at a gas field in the North African state, which has reportedly led to 14 Japanese going missing.

An official with Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Sid Ali Ketrandji had been called in to see the foreign minister’s deputy in a “…meeting…over the incident.”

On Wednesday, militants in Algeria reportedly took hostage 41 foreigners, including American, and French, British, and Japanese citizens, after conducting a deadly attack on the In Amenas gas field, close to the Libyan border.

At least 17 Japanese nationals are believed to have been held hostage in Algeria.

On Thursday, the Algerian Army conducted air raids on the gas facilities where the incident occurred. There are conflicting reports about how the operation to free the hostages started and it is not known how many foreign workers are still held hostage and how many have been killed.

Algeria’s News Agency (APS) said at least four foreigners, including a Frenchman, two Britons, and a Kenyan were freed and four more hostages, including two Britons and two Filipinos were killed after the air raid.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also cut short his trip to Indonesia to deal with the situation, Japanese Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Abe had earlier criticized his Algerian counterpart over the country’s military operation on the gas facility.

Britain’s Foreign Office has also said the developments are still unfolding on the ground and the number of casualties remains unclear.

British Prime Minister David Cameron warned the British people to be prepared for bad news. He also called off a planned speech.

The hostage-takers are demanding an immediate end to France’s military intervention in neighboring Mali.

On January 11, France launched a military intervention in Mali under the pretext of halting the advance of militants in the African country.

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