Algerian diplomats survive massacre in Bamako

Foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra Friday said six Algerian diplomats were released after they had been held hostage by armed men at a hotel in Bamako.

The armed men entered the hotel on a diplomatic car and held 170 people as hostage. Of them, 80 were released.

Murabitoun Batatlion led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar alias Belaouer claimed responsibility for the operation.

“An Algerian official delegation of 6 people were released. They had been held by armed men who entered the hotel where they were staying,” Algeria news agency reported citing the foreign minister.

“The Algerian delegation’s members were released by UN forces in Mali and Malian governmental forces. They are doing well,” he added.

The minister did not say why the diplomatic delegation was present in Mali.

Six years ago, Algerian diplomats were kidnapped in Gao. Of them, consul Boualam Sais was killed by the terrorist group.

In 2005, Al-Qaeda killed Algerian diplomat in Bagdad Ali Laroussi and Azzedine Belkadi, an employee at the Algerian embassy in Iraq.

According to a release issued by the foreign ministry, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika ordered to set up an urgent crisis cell.

“Immediately after the announcement of the terror attack, the President of the Republic ordered to set up an urgent crisis cell at the foreign ministry to obtain information about this attack and its impact,” said the release.

Algeria has led dialogue rounds for more than a year between the Malian crisis parts: the Bamako government and the six Malian movements representatives. Algeria was chosen to hold the dialogue as three Azawed movements in the north wanted talks to be held in an impartial country.

The dialogue rounds sponsored by the UN and the African Union came up with a Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.