- Title: ALGERIA: In Amenas municipality chief says residents will confront attackers
- Date: 31st January 2013
- Summary: TIGUENTOURINE, ALGERIA (JANUARY 31, 2013) (REUTERS) APPROACH TO CHECKPOINT IN TIGUENTOURINE LEADING TO RESIDENCY COMPOUND FOR FOREIGN WORKERS AT THE IN AMENAS GAS FACILITY SIGN MARKING DIRECTION TO RESIDENTIAL CAMP SIGN FROM BEHIND METAL WIRES WIDE OF SECURITY ACTIVITY AT RESIDENTIAL COMPOUND / SOLDIERS WALKING ABOUT SECURITY FORCES STOOD NEAR A TANK MORE OF SOLDIERS TWO SOLDIERS PERCHED ON TANK ARMED SECURITY FORCES STANDING MORE OF ACTIVITY AT RESIDENTIAL CAMP CLOSE OF BOARD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IN AMENAS MUNICIPALITY CHIEF, MANSOURI BELAL, SAYING: "This is something that has not just affected us, but has affected the entire world. We all condemn this criminal and cowardly act at the gas facility in Tiguentourine. We praise the members of the National Army for intervening so quickly and saving the hostages, the Algerian and the foreign hostages." JOURNALIST ASKS IF THE ATTACK HAS AFFECTED THE RESIDENTS OF IN AMENAS? "It will not affect us, and we will never fear them. They are cowards who work at night and we will confront them with our dedicated citizens with God's help." WIDE OF SURROUNDING AREA BUILDINGS AT COMPOUND PEOPLE IN PROTECTIVE CLOTHING STANDING NEAR SHIPPING CONTAINERS VARIOUS OF SECURITY AT COMPOUND
- Embargoed: 15th February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Algeria
- Country: Algeria
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Conflict,Politics,Energy
- Reuters ID: LVA12JM8WXJBZMN49ISE4UXQWDEQ
- Story Text: In Amenas municipality chief Mansouri Belal condemns a recent siege by Islamist militants at a gas plant, saying local residents would support the capture of any attackers.
As damage is assessed and repairs are made to Algeria's In Amenas gas plant after a siege this month by Islamist militants, municipality chief Mansouri Belal vowed on Thursday (January 31) that the attackers would be confronted.
Speaking at the residential compound in Tiguentourine for foreign workers of the In Amenas gas facility, Belal condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act.
"This is something that has not just affected us, but has affected the entire world. We all condemn this criminal and cowardly act at the gas facility in Tiguentourine. We praise the members of the National Army for intervening so quickly and saving the hostages, the Algerian and the foreign hostages," said the In Amenas municipality chief.
Heavy police activity could be seen at the residential compound, with tanks and armed soldiers stationed around the area.
Belal said local residents were not frightened by the siege and would support security efforts to capture the attackers on the plant, jointly owned by BP, Statoil and Algeria's state energy firm Sonatrach.
"It will not affect us, and we will never fear them. They are cowards who work at night and we will confront them with our dedicated citizens with God's help," he said.
The In Amenas plant produces 9 billion cubic metres of gas per year, equal to around 11 percent of Algeria's annual gas output.
Up to 37 foreigners died after troops stormed the complex to end the hostage crisis, which also saw the killing of 29 hostage-takers.
On Monday (January 28), suspected Islamist militants attacked an oil pipeline in northern Algeria, killing two guards and wounding seven other people, a security source told Reuters.
Algeria's energy and mines minister, Youcef Yousfi said this week that Algeria would boost security at oil and gas facilities to cope with any new potential attacks.
Neighbouring Libya and Tunisia have already taken steps to protect their energy facilities after the In Amenas attack. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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