Japan Govt Suga: Japan Held Foreign Ministerial Talks With
Algeria, Norway on Hostage Crisis         By Mitsuru Obe
TOKYO--The foreign ministers of Japan and Algeria have held
talks on how to deal with the hostage crisis at a gas field in
the North African nation, Japan's top government spokesman said
Thursday.      "Foreign minister (Fumio) Kishida told his
Algerian counterpart that Japan is concerned about the situation
and can never tolerate such acts," Chief Cabinet Secretary
Yoshihide Suga said, adding that Mr. Kishida had "asked for
Algeria's cooperation to solve the crisis quickly."      The
comments come after an armed group with possible links to al
Qaeda seized about 40 foreigners, including several Japanese,
British, French and U.S. nationals at a natural-gas field in
Algeria on Wednesday.      Mr. Suga declined to disclose the
number of Japanese citizens being held or other details relating
to the hostages.      He also said that Mr. Kishida had asked
the Algerian foreign minister to make se