US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta delivers a speech in the Great Hall of King's College in central London on January 18, 2013. 'Terrorists' who attack US interests have no place to hide, Panetta said as fears grew for the dozens of foreigners taken hostage by Islamists at a gas plant in Algeria. (Photo: LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)
LONDON (AP) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the U.S. is working with the British and Algerian governments to assess what's happening on the ground at a natural gas complex in the Sahara where Islamic militants are holding hostages from at least 10 countries.
The fate of many of the captives remains uncertain.
Speaking Friday at Kings College in London, Panetta said the U.S. is "working around the clock to ensure the safe return of our citizens."
Panetta says the terrorists should be on notice that they'll find no sanctuary in Algeria or North Africa. He says anyone who looks to attack the U.S. will have "no place to hide."
The Pentagon says Panetta will meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron. They will discuss Islamic militant operations in Mali and Algeria.
The Associated Press