Sahara Islamists take hostages, spreading Mali war

Reuters ^ | Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:24pm EST | By Lamine Chikhi and Bate Felix ALGIERS/BAMAKO

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

(Reuters) - Islamist fighters seized dozens of Western and Algerian hostages in a dawn raid on a natural gas facility deep in the Sahara on Wednesday and demanded France halt a new offensive against rebels in neighboring Mali.

Three people, among them one British and one French, were reported killed, but details were sketchy and numbers of those held at Tigantourine ranged from 41 foreigners - including perhaps seven Americans as well as Japanese and Europeans - to over 100 local staff, held separately and less closely watched.

 

What is clear is that with a dramatic counterpunch to this week's French build-up in Mali, the region's loosely allied, al Qaeda-inspired radicals have set Paris a daunting dilemma and spread fallout from Mali's hitherto obscure civil war far beyond northwest Africa, challenging Washington as well as Europeans and shutting down a major gas field that pumps energy to Europe.

The attack, which Algeria said was led by a veteran, Afghan-trained holy warrior-cum-smuggler dubbed "The Uncatchable" by French intelligence, came just as French ground troops in Mali launched their first assault after six days of air strikes.

The United States, which like European powers endorsed France's decision to intervene last week against Islamists who have seized vast tracts of northern Mali, confirmed Americans were among the hostages and said it would work to "secure" them.

Western and African governments have been alarmed by a flow of weapons and fighters across the unmarked Sahara borders following the end of Libya's civil war in 2011 and fear that Mali, where Islamists drive the national army from the north nine months ago, could become an Afghan-style al Qaeda haven.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

France is the target....according to this.

[Marine_Uncle]

I seem to have remembered that for so long Zarahari was considered "uncatchable" as well. He probably did not even feel the concussion of the JDAMS that hit his hut. :)
Looks like this is going to spin totally out of control in that region. The French can't back down. Perhaps it will draw great numbers of al-Qaeda and affiliates out of Libya and elsewhere that can then be slaughtered in large numbers by air power. Time will tell.

[a fool in paradise]

Where is the Youtube video for Obambi to blame this time?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

[Bigg Red]

I am wondering if this is a lie that the Soros Administration is using to get the US involved in yet another of his wars.

[Cronos]

" following the end of Libya's civil war in 2011"

We should have supplied weapons to Ghaddafi to killll these scum.

[Cronos]

If Obam had his way, the US military would be fighting on the side of Aqlaeda

[Bigg Red]

If Obam had his way, the US military would be fighting on the side of Aqlaeda

&&&
He’s working on it.

[Grampa Dave]

Like many of us, I wondered where Mali was and why the French went to war to protect it.

http://www.theawl.com/2013/01/mali-where-is-it