The US has defended a failed rescue raid in Yemen that ended with the deaths of two hostages, saying that it had no choice to launch the operation.
American photojournalist Luke Somers, 33, and South African teacher Pierre Korkie, 57, were killed by their captors on Saturday when the location they were being held in was stormed in a joint US and Yemeni iniative.
The two men were being held by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the southern Shabwa region of Yemen.
Barack Obama has branded the murders "barbaric." He said that he authorized the mission to save Luke and other hostages and after he had received information that "Luke's life was in imminent danger."
Obama emphasised that the US would not hold back in using all of its "military, intelligence, and diplomatic capabilities to bring Americans home safely, wherever they are located."
The militant extremist group AQAP had posted a video on Thursday showing Somers alive and threatening to kill him within 72 hours. Pierre Korkie was due to be released on Friday.
British-born Somers was captured in Yemen's capital Sanaa in September 2013 having spent time working in the country for media establishments, including the Yemen Times, BBC and Al Jazeera.
Korkie and his wife Yolande were taken captive in May 2013, although Yolande was freed in January. She had since been campaigning for her husband's release.
As well as Somers and Korkie, at least 11 other people were killed during the failed rescue operation, including AQAP militants.
