Prime Minister to visit In Amenas plant in Algeria

DAVID Cameron is to visit Algeria in the wake of the hostage crisis that left six Britons dead, it was revealed last night.

Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister would be travelling to the African country to meet his counterpart, Abdelmalek Sellal, today.

He will also be attending an international development conference in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.

At least 69 people are believed to have died as a result of the terrorist siege at the In Amenas plant. Three Britons, including two Scots, were confirmed dead, and a further three are believed to have been killed. A number of people are still unaccounted for. The Algerian government took the controversial decision to storm the site in the Sahara desert, with Mr Cameron and other world leaders protesting about not being notified in advance.

The PM is expected to hold talks with Mr Sellal and president Abdelaziz Bouteflika during his visit.

Apart from the growing terror threat from extremists in the area, discussions are likely to touch on the military campaign against rebels in neighbouring Mali.

Mr Cameron was expected to pay his respects to those who died at In Amenas during the trip.

In Monrovia, the Prime Minister is co-chairing the UN’s High Level Panel meeting on the millennium development goals, with Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The meeting is considering what new targets to set after the existing development goals expire in 2015.