Baird mum on Canadians in Algerian attack, highlights visit to Tim Hortons

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is refusing to comment on a CBC News report identifying the two Canadians involved in January’s deadly terrorist attack at an isolated Algerian gas plant.

Baird is referring questions to his cabinet colleague, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews and security agencies.

The RCMP says the force’s investigation into Canadian involvement in the attack continues and added that no further information would be provided at present.

Baird is instead highlighting his visit to a local Tim Hortons outlet in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates as part of a lengthy tour of the Middle East and Persian Gulf.

Citing unidentified sources, the CBC says Ali Medlej and Xristos Katsiroubas — high school friends who were both from London, Ont. — were the Canadians whose bodies were found amidst the carnage.

CBC says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service began asking questions about both men after a family member contacted authorities in 2007 with concerns about the pair.

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