Keighley MP addresses Commons over Algeria terror incident (From Keighley News)

Keighley MP addresses Commons over Algeria terror incident

3:56pm Friday 18th January 2013 in Keighley By Alistair Shand

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins has told the Commons that it may be necessary to form an international response unit to deal with terrorist incidents such as the ongoing hostage situation in Algeria.

He was speaking today after David Cameron informed MPs that the Algerian government had not given Downing Street advance notice of direct military action at the BP gas plant at Tigantourine.

Mr Hopkins asked the the Prime Minister: “Following the apparent reluctance of Algeria to receive Western assistance, is the time approaching when an international force should be developed to respond to terrorist attacks such as these, perhaps under the auspices of the United Nations?

“That could give countries such as Algeria confidence about our intentions.”

In response, the Prime Minister said he believed Mr Hopkins had made an important point but that there were difficulties with the idea.

“In the end we have to respect the fact that different countries have territorial integrity and have to make decisions that they think are in the interests of their own people and their own countries,” he said.

“What we should be doing is trying to ensure that, in every case, there is the best possible contact and relationship between countries such as ours - where, regrettably, for reasons of history, we have had to develop real expertise in hostage rescue and negotiation - and other countries.”