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Algeria hostage Belfast man Stephen McFaul is free Algeria hostage Belfast man Stephen McFaul is free
(35 minutes later)
A Belfast man who was held hostage at a BP facility in Algeria has been freed and has spoken to his wife.A Belfast man who was held hostage at a BP facility in Algeria has been freed and has spoken to his wife.
Stephen McFaul, 36, who was travelling on an Irish passport, was being held along with other foreign nationals.Stephen McFaul, 36, who was travelling on an Irish passport, was being held along with other foreign nationals.
Earlier, the man's family appealed for his release "as a matter of urgency". Mr McFaul's 13-year-old son has said he can't wait to give his father "a big hug".
The kidnappers attacked and occupied the complex on Wednesday, after killing a Briton and an Algerian. Meanwhile, it has emerged that a second man from Northern Ireland is involved in the hostage crisis. He is understood to be from north Antrim.
The Republic of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said Mr McFaul had "made contact with his family and is understood to be safe and freed from captivity". No other information is available but it is believed he is travelling on a British passport.
Sinn Fein Belfast MLA Paul Maskey tweeted following a visit to the McFaul family home. Stephen McFaul had managed to contact his relatives twice before while in captivity.
But after receiving no further contact since Wednesday, his family made a plea for him to be released unharmed.
In a statement, issued through West Belfast MP Paul Maskey, they said they were very concerned about his welfare.
But two and a half hours later, he made contact with them to say he was free.
Mr Maskey tweeted after a visit to the McFaul family home.
"Brilliant news on his release. Family delighted," his message read."Brilliant news on his release. Family delighted," his message read.
Four foreign hostages were freed but the operation resulted in a number of "victims", Algeria's APS agency said. The Irish Republic's deputy prime minister said: "I am extremely thankful and relieved to learn that the Irish national who was a hostage in Algeria has made contact with his family and is safe.
Algerian soldiers had been surrounding the facility near In which kidnappers occupied on Wednesday, after killing a Briton and an Algerian. "I spoke with his family yesterday, and I know how relieved they will be that he is well after his ordeal.
Reports quoting militants said at least 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers died. "This is the news that we all wanted to hear. At the same time, my thoughts are with the other oil-field workers who are caught up in this terrible situation and with their families who are also waiting for news at this difficult time.
Militants told Mauritania's ANI news agency that seven foreign hostages were still alive after the Algerian military raid. "We continue to liaise with the Algerian authorities and with the authorities of the other countries affected by this incident."
It quoted an unnamed source as saying that "about half" the foreign hostages had been freed. Four foreign hostages were freed in an Algerian military operation but there were a number of "victims", the official Algerian APS news agency said.
The Algerian military targeted two vehicles as they tried to escape from the site with an unknown number of people on board. Militants told local media that Algerian forces had opened fire from the air. Algerian soldiers had been surrounding the facility near In Amenas that Islamic militants occupied on Wednesday, after killing a Briton and an Algerian.
The militants earlier said they were holding 41 foreign nationals. They are believed to include British, Japanese, US and Norwegian citizens.
Media reports and officials said a number of hostages had escaped from the gas facility.