Obama Offers Help To Australia Post-Hostage Crisis

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is offering U.S. assistance to Australia after the Sydney hostage crisis.

The president called Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Monday night and offered condolences after a gunman took 17 people hostage inside a cafe.

The White House says Obama expressed confidence the Australian people will emerge from this tragedy stronger.

The White House also says Obama praised the Australian public's embrace of the hashtag #Illridewithyou — offering to ride public transportation with anyone wearing religious garments who feared they would be harassed after the hostage situation.

Authorities say the hostage taker was a 50-year-old Iranian-born, self-styled cleric named Man Haron Monis. He was killed along with two hostages when police rushed in to free the captives.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.