Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, and British Defense Minister Philip Hammond, shake hands for photographers before their meeting at Lancaster House in London, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, on the last day of Panetta's final overseas trip. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, and British Defense Minister Philip Hammond, shake hands for photographers before their meeting at Lancaster House in London, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, on the last day of Panetta's final overseas trip. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Britain's Secretary of State for Defense Philip Hammond, left, speak to the media with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta during a news conference at Lancaster House in London on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Britain's defense minister says it appears the hostage situation in Algeria has come to an end and resulted in further loss of life. Philip Hammond calls the loss of life appalling and unacceptable. He says "it is the terrorists that bear the sole responsibility for it." Hammond spoke at the start of a news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks to the media during a news conference with the Secretary of State for Defense Philip Hammond, not pictured, at Lancaster House in London on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Britain's defense minister says it appears the hostage situation in Algeria has come to an end and resulted in further loss of life. Philip Hammond calls the loss of life appalling and unacceptable. He says "it is the terrorists that bear the sole responsibility for it." Hammond spoke at the start of a news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Britain's Secretary of State for Defense Philip Hammond arrive for a news conference at Lancaster House in London on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama said Saturday the U.S. stands ready to provide whatever assistance Algerian officials need in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack at a natural gas complex in the Sahara.
The four-day standoff appeared to end Saturday after Algerian special forces stormed the complex. The clash left at least 23 hostages dead and killed all 32 militants involved, the Algerian government said.
The State Department issued a travel warning Saturday night for Americans in or traveling to Algeria, citing credible threats of the kidnapping of Western nationals. The department also authorized the departure from Algeria of staff members' families if they choose to leave.
In a statement from the White House, Obama said the blame lay with the militants and that the United States condemns their actions.
"This attack is another reminder of the threat posed by al-Qaida and other violent extremist groups in North Africa," Obama said. "In the coming days, we will remain in close touch with the government of Algeria to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so that we can work together to prevent tragedies like this in the future."
Earlier Saturday, during a news conference in London with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, British Defense Minister Philip Hammond called the loss of life appalling and unacceptable.
"It is the terrorists that bear the sole responsibility," Hammond told reporters.
Hammond didn't criticize Algeria's handling of the attack directly, but he appeared to reference the increased concern from world leaders about the lack of transparency in Algeria's anti-terror operation.
"Different countries have different approaches to dealing with these things," he said. "But the nature of collaboration in confronting a global threat is that we work with people sometimes who do things somewhat different, slightly differently from the way we do them ourselves."
Panetta said that "those who would wantonly attack our country and our people will have no place to hide."
"Just as we cannot accept terrorism attacks against our cities, we cannot accept attacks against our citizens and our interests abroad," he said.
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Baldor reported from London.
Associated Press
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