LIBERAL DEMORATIC PARTY

Foreign nationals from nine countries including 17 Japanese were recently kidnapped and taken hostage in Algeria. Tragically, ten Japanese working for the engineering company, JGC Corp., (Nikki), were killed and their bodies were today returned to Japan.

The LDP expresses its deep sympathy for the loss of Japanese lives and extends its sincere condolences to their family and friends.

From the outset of the terrorist incident, the Japanese government's utmost priority had been to gather intelligence and identify measures to ensure the safety of the hostages through cooperation with other countries affected.

The LDP established an emergmecy headquarters to coordinate the rescue of the Japanese hostages in full cooperation with the outgoing government and fully supportive of the countermeasures adopted. It is extremely regrettable that the crisis resulted in the deaths of ten Japanese nationals who were front-line overseas workers.

The LDP resolutely condemns the terrorist group responsible for this despicable terror and reiterates its determination to combat terrorism in cooperation with the global community.

The LDP will thoroughly examine this recent crisis situation and craft the appropriate measures including introducing laws to protect Japanese nationals working abroad and their Japanese firms operating overseas.