Snapshot of Stories
US President Barack Obama has blamed “terrorists” for the death of at least 23 hostages at a besieged desert gas facility in Algeria. A four-day siege at the In Amenas site was ended on Saturday by an army raid. At least five Britons, five Norwegians and 10 Japanese are dead or missing, while Algeria said its troops had killed all 32 hostage-takers. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said the US would go after al-Qaeda wherever they tried to hide. “This attack is another reminder of the threat posed by al-Qaeda and other violent extremist groups in North Africa,” said Mr Obama on Saturday. “We will continue to work closely with all of our partners to combat the scourge of terrorism in the region.” Details are still sketchy, but unconfirmed reports say the hostage-takers summarily killed the remaining seven hostages before themselves being killed in a final army raid on Saturday. State news agency APS said 685 Algerian workers and 107 out of 132 foreigners working at the plant had been freed, citing interior ministry figures. The nationalities of some of the hostages killed are still not known. The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that some British nationals caught up in the Algerian hostage crisis returned home overnight. No details were released, but a spokesman said the foreign secretary would give an update later on Sunday. The crisis began on Wednesday when militants attacked two buses carrying foreign workers the remote site in south-eastern Algeria. A Briton and an Algerian reportedly died in the incident. The militants then took Algerians and expatriates hostage at the complex, which was quickly surrounded by the Algerian army. A statement from the kidnappers said the assault on the gas plant was launched in retaliation for French intervention against Islamist groups in neighbouring Mali. However, France only decided last week to intervene militarily in Mali. Analysts say the assault on the gas facility was well-planned and would have required advance research, as well as possibly inside help. The leader of the hostage-takers was a veteran fighter from Niger, named as Abdul Rahman al-Nigeri by the Mauritanian news agency ANI, which had been in contact with the militants. The Algerian armed forces attacked on Thursday as militants tried to move some of their captives from the facility.
Songs Played
Ian Brown – F.E.A.R
Adele – Skyfall
Morrissey – I’m Throwing MyArms Around Paris
Snow Patrol – Just Say Yes
N-Trance – Stayin’ Alive
Amoriste – The Mascot
One Direction – Kiss You
will.i.am feat Britney Spears – Scream & Shout
ABBA – Gimme Gimme Gimme
Paloma Faith – Stone Cold Sober
We Are Augustines – Chapel Song
Missing Andy – Mr Policeman (acoustic)
Madness – Never Knew Your Name
Lightening Seeds – Life of Riley
Lisa Stansfield – All Around The World
David Guetta feat. Sia – Titanium
80s Hour
Midge Ure – If I Was
Dolly Parton – 9 to 5
Police – Every Breath You Take
Alan Parsons Project – Eye In The Sky
Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning
Depeche Mode – Somebody
BeeGees – You Win Again
Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus
Yazz – Don’t Go
