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Kidnapping of Nigerian girls "is awful," Obama says

President Obama told Megan Glaros, a WBBM meteorologist on assignment for "CBS This Morning," that his administration is doing "everything we can" to assist in the efforts to free the nearly 300 girls kidnapped by kidnapped by Islamic militants in Nigeria
Obama: Kidnapping of Nigerian girls "is awful" 01:00

President Obama on Tuesday said his administration is doing "everything we can" to assist in the efforts to free the nearly 300 girls kidnapped by kidnapped by Islamic militants in Nigeria.

"Obviously, what's happening is awful and as the father of two girls, I can't imagine what the parents are going through," Mr. Obama told Megan Glaros, a WBBM meteorologist on assignment for "CBS This Morning." His comments came during an interview with Glaros about a new climate change report released Tuesday by the White House.

Earlier in the day, Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed the American embassy in Nigeria is "prepared to form a coordination cell" that will aid in Nigeria's efforts to rescue the girls, who were kidnapped 22 days ago.

The U.S. embassy has offered to provide an interdisciplinary team that could provide expertise on intelligence, investigations, and hostage negotiations, as well as help facilitate information sharing and provide victim assistance.

Kerry said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan "happily" welcomed the offer of assistance. "We are immediately engaging to implement this," Kerry said.

The U.S. is already involved in the fight against Boko Haram, the group responsible for kidnapping the girls. Mr. Obama on Tuesday called the group "one of the worst regional or local terrorist organizations in the world."

"More broadly... we're going to have to really tackle a pernicious problem inside that country," he said -- "an organization that has carried out ruthless attacks and killed thousands of people over the last several years."

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