Canada closely monitoring ‘cowardly’ attack on Kenyan shopping mall: Harper

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada will work with international partners to confront terrorism, and will focus on the group responsible for the deadly weekend attack in Kenya.

He calls the raid on a shopping mall by the Somalia-based al-Shabab group cowardly.

Harper says Canada and its allies abroad are monitoring the situation, and he’s extending condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims.

The prime minister won’t comment on national security operations, but did say that the international community is working to examine what is happening and to take appropriate action.

Diplomat Annemarie Desloges was one of two Canadians killed when gunmen attacked Nairobi’s upscale Westgate mall, a venue frequented by expatriates and wealthy locals.

Media reports and Facebook users have identified Vancouver businessman Naguib Damji as the other Canadian victim.