ROME (Reuters) - The United States is taking "very seriously" the military intervention of France and Mali to examine the legal requirements for a possible U.S. assistance, said the Secretary of Defense, mercredi.
Leon Panetta, who was in Rome as part of a week-long tour in Europe, said that Washington has already provided information to the French forces under Operation Serval.
"The administration takes this very seriously and we actually looked at the different areas in which assistance could be provided," said Panetta. "I am confident that we can provide assistance" .
Asked about the time taken to reach such a decision, Panetta said that the U.S. government wanted to determine what kind of help the French army needed and to ensure "have the legal authority" to provide this assistance.
Panetta has discussed the issue with his Malian counterpart Giampaolo di Paola Italian and other Italian leaders, mercredi.
"I think it is no doubt that everyone agrees that we need to provide the necessary assistance to support the efforts of the French," said Panetta, indicating that the intervention in Mali supported by the United Nations must be considered an "international effort" .
Mali crisis has entered a new dimension Wednesday with the kidnapping of 41 Westerners by a splinter group of AQIM from a gas exploration in the south-eastern Algeria .
Washington confirmed that many Americans are among the hostages, without specifying their nombre.
Cities by Mauritanian media, the attackers say hold 41 foreigners, including seven Americans, on this field jointly operated by the British company BP, Statoil and Algerian Sonatrach.
"Beyond the confirmation of the fact that Americans are among the hostages, I ask you to respect our decision not to provide further details to the extent that we try to ensure the safety of these people," said the door Speaker of the State Department, Victoria Nuland.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Algerian Abdelmalek Sellal, as well as the U.S. ambassador Algérie.
U.S. officials have also established contacts with the security services BP.
Leon Panetta for his part said that "the United States will take all necessary and appropriate measures to deal with this situation" .
David Alexander; Pierre Serisier for service français
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