S.Africa refuses to point finger over botched US hostage raid

South Africa’s foreign minister on Tuesday avoided pointing the finger of blame over the death of hostage Pierre Korkie during a failed US rescue mission in Yemen.

“We all need to get together and fight terrorism and what comes with it, hostage taking. I think the intentions were good, but the outcome was not what one desired,” said Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

“There were intentions to try and get those hostages free, safe and sound it did not work out the way it was planned,” she said at a press conference in Pretoria.

Korkie, a 56-year-old South African teacher, and US photojournalist Luke Somers were shot dead by their Al-Qaeda captors during a US special forces rescue bid in Yemen on Saturday.

“South Africa’s tactics might not be the same as our other interlocutors, but what remains is that we all are engaged in combating this terrorism wherever it rears its ugly head,” the minister said.

Nkoana-Mashabane also said there were up to five other South African hostages being held around the world, some with dual citizenship, but declined to give details.