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Algeria

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Algeria Main Page
First Parliamentary Elections
Attempts at Reform
Reconciliation Efforts Are Thwarted by Acts of Terror
Dozens of People Killed in Hostage Crisis

Dozens of People Killed in Hostage Crisis

On Jan. 16, 2013, Islamic militants took dozens of foreign hostages at the BP-controlled In Amenas gas field in eastern Algeria, near the Libyan border. Algerian officials said the militants were members of an offshoot of al-Qaeda called Al Mulathameen and were acting in retaliation for France's intervention in nearby Mali to beat back militants who had crossed into government-controlled areas. On Jan. 17, Algerian troops stormed the complex and attacked the kidnappers. By the end of the standoff on Jan. 20, 29 militants and 37 hostages were killed. Three Americans were among the dead. The Algerian government was criticized for its heavy-handed approach to the crisis but remained unapologetic.

On Sept. 3, 2012, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika named Abdelmalek Sellal as prime minister. The government's main cabinet positions remained unchanged.

See also Encyclopedia: Algeria .
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Algeria
Office National de Statistiques (Some English Content) www.ons.dz/English/indexag.htm