KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 – United States President Barack Obama lambasted the attack on a hotel in Mali here on Saturday, saying that the heinous crime is another awful reminder of the scourge of terrorism that threatens many nations. Obama, who spoke of the deadly attack at the beginning of his address at the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit 2015 in the Malaysian capital, said the United States, with its allies and partners, would be relentless in getting at those who target its citizens.
“There are more than 20 people were killed in the attack Friday at the luxury hotel in Bamako where the attackers took 170 people hostage. We’ll continue to root out terrorist networks. The barbarity only stiffens the United States’ resolve to meet this challenge,” said Obama, who is in Kuala Lumpur for three days to attend the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits under Malaysia’s 2015 chairmanship of the regional grouping.
Meanwhile, he also vowed that the United States and its allies would not allow these killers to have a safe haven. He said that that Nations around the world, including countries represented here on Saturday, are united in our determination to protect our people, to push back on the hateful ideologies that fuel this terrorism, and to stand up for the universal values of tolerance and respect for human dignity that unites us and makes us stronger than any terrorist.
Obama stressed that this is the work they must do together while this is also the future that we have to build together and that’s why he is here now. The president extended deepest condolences to the people of Mali and the families of the victims, at least one of whom was an American. He said they will stand with the people of Mali as they work to rid their country of terrorists and strengthen their democracy.
