No place for terrorists to hide: US
US defence secretary says terrorists" who attack American interests have no place to hide�.
LONDON - "Terrorists" who attack American interests have no place to hide, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Friday as fears grew for dozens of foreigners taken hostage by Islamists at a gas plant in Algeria.
"Terrorists should be on notice that they will find no sanctuary, no refuge. Not in Algeria, not in North Africa, not anywhere," Panetta said in a speech at Kings College London university.
"Those who would wantonly attack our country and our people will have no place to hide."
He added that US officials were "working around the clock" to secure the safe return of an unknown number of Americans who were among those taken hostage at the remote In Amenas gas plant in southern Algeria.
"Regardless of the motivation of the hostage takers, there is no justification for the kidnapping and murder of innocent people," said Panetta.
"We will continue to be in close consultation with the Algerian government."
The defense secretary was in London as part of a visit to several European capitals, and was due to give a press conference with his British counterpart Philip Hammond on Saturday.
