David Cameron set for talks in Algeria in wake of hostage crisis
David Cameron arrives for Algeria talks
(about 2 hours later)
UK prime minister David Cameron is on his way to Algeria where he will hold talks with his counterpart in the wake of the recent hostage crisis.
David Cameron has landed in Algeria for the first visit by a British prime minister to the north African country since it became independent.
He will stress the strategic importance of Algeria in what he has called "the generational struggle" against al-Qaeda in North Africa.
He said his aim was "very much about helping this neighbourhood to help itself", amid concerns raised over UK military going to neighbouring Mali.
The UK is to send 330 military personnel to Algeria's neighbour Mali and West Africa to support French forces battling Islamist militants.
The prime minister will discuss the threat of terrorism in a meeting with his Algerian counterpart.
Critics have warned of "mission creep".
This follows the recent siege at the In Amenas gas plant in the Sahara.
Mr Cameron said he would be announcing a security partnership with Algeria, as well as co-operation on trade, investment and education.
Wreath
The UK is to send 330 military personnel to Mali and west Africa to support French forces battling Islamist militants. Critics have warned of "mission creep".
The deployment will include as many as 40 military advisers in Mali and 200 British soldiers in neighbouring African countries, to help train the Malian army.
The deployment will include as many as 40 military advisers in Mali and 200 British soldiers in neighbouring African countries, to help train the Malian army.
French-led forces are continuing their offensive against militants who seized northern Mali last year.
French-led forces are continuing their offensive against militants who seized northern Mali last year.
Mr Cameron will be the first UK prime minister to visit Algeria since its independence in 1962. He will also be attending an international development conference in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister was keen to use this trip to address fears that he is risking a protracted military engagement in north Africa.
'Temporary operation'
He wanted to stress the situation in Mali would not become "another Afghanistan or even another Libya", our correspondent, who is travelling with the UK government entourage, added.
He is expected to hold talks with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, with discussions likely to focus on the hostage crisis, which left up to six Britons dead, and the military campaign in Mali.
Mr Cameron will lay a wreath as a mark of respect to the hostages who died in the In Amenas siege and will hold talks with the Algerian Prime minister and president.
Some 37 foreigners and at least 10 Algerians died after militants seized workers at the gas plant earlier this month.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson says Mr Cameron's aides are stressing that the troops being sent to the region are to be used for training, logistics and intelligence, and not combat. They talk of a temporary operation.
But this trip is bound to heighten the demands on the prime minister to say not simply what he is not planning in North Africa, but to explain more about what exactly he is, our correspondent adds.
Some 37 foreigners and at least 10 Algerians died after militants seized workers at Algeria's In Amenas gas plant earlier this month.
Inquests were opened on Monday into the deaths of four UK nationals and a British resident killed in the hostage crisis.
The bodies of Britons Sebastian John, 26, from Nottingham, Garry Barlow, 50, from Liverpool, Paul Morgan, 46, from Liverpool and Kenneth Whiteside, 59, who lived in Johannesburg, South Africa, but had family in Scotland, were flown back to the UK last week. Also flown back was the body of Carlos Estrada Valencia, 44, who was a Colombian national who lived in London.
West Sussex Coroner Penelope Schofield adjourned the inquests until 1 July.
The Algerian government took the controversial decision to storm the site in the Sahara desert, which is jointly operated by BP.
Algerian officials said the hostage-takers had been from six different nationalities and belonged to a new Islamist group that recently broke away from al-Qaeda.
During the siege, one statement purporting to be from the captors called for an end to the French military intervention in Mali.
'Mission creep'
The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Algiers, said radical groups, some with links to al-Qaeda, had grown in strength in the region in recent years.
He said Mr Cameron's visit may be partly an attempt to mend any damage to relations after the prime minister expressed disappointment that he had had no advance warning about the Algerian hostage rescue operation.
Mr Cameron has said the hostage crisis highlights the need for a "strong security response" matched by an "intelligent political response".
Labour has said it supports greater intelligence sharing and security co-operation with countries in the region but has expressed concerns about the UK being dragged deeper into the conflict in Mali.
"During his visit to the region the prime minister should be clear about not just the level of British troop commitments, but also give details of their status, provisions for force-protections and intended functions on the ground," said shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander.
"We must guard against mission creep in Mali."
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