Obama says US ready to assist Algerian officials

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama says the U.S. stands ready to provide whatever assistance officials need in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Algeria.

Algerian special forces stormed a natural gas complex in the Sahara desert on Saturday to end the four-day standoff with extremists. Officials say at least 23 hostages have died.

Obama said Saturday that the blame rests with the terrorists who carried out the attacks and that the U.S. condemns their actions.

The president says the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with the families of all those who were killed and injured in the terrorist attack.

He says that the U.S. will continue to work closely with all its partners to combat what he called "the scourge of terrorism in the region."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-01-19-Obama-Algeria-Kidnapping/id-67b6c8d7995e409183395c6a8639f06b

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