Algeria deals responsibly with issue of Algerian hostages in Mali

Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci said in Algiers that Algeria was dealing responsibly with the issue of Algerian hostages in Mali’s north. The Algerian hostages are going through an ordeal according to the information available to the Algerian authorities. They, however, are facing the situation with "courage and responsibility," Medelci said at a joint news conference with Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain. "We express our respect and esteem to our Malian brothers. We wish that the State of Mali would overcome as soon as possible the crisis." To achieve this goal, Medelci said, "Malian need to combine efforts." The abducted Algerians, whose basic aim was to serve and help Mali, were under the responsibility of this country." The minister wished that the message would be received by ever party in a position to contribute to resolving the crisis in Mali, and the hostage issue in particular. Algeria consul in Gao, Mali, and six of his aides were kidnapped on 5 April 2012.