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Algeria says military operation to free hostages 'over' Algeria says military operation to free hostages 'over'
(35 minutes later)
The military operation to free hostages at a desert gas plant is now over, the Algerian state news agency reports. An Algerian military operation to free hostages being held by militants at a desert gas plant is now over, state news agency APS reports.
Four foreigners were reportedly freed but up to 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers died in the operation against Islamic militants, according to APS. Algerian state TV said four foreigners were killed in the operation. Others were freed, but there was no confirmation of how many hostages survived.
The British government said it had been told the gas plant was still being searched and the number of causalities was still unconfirmed. The British government said it believed the gas plant was still being searched.
Al-Qaeda-linked fighters occupied the facility near In Amenas on Wednesday.Al-Qaeda-linked fighters occupied the facility near In Amenas on Wednesday.
Algerian state television says four foreigners were killed in the operation by Algerian forces to liberate hostages held by militants in a remote natural gas complex. Earlier, the militants themselves were reported to have said that at least 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers died.
There has however been no confirmation of the number of dead of any nationality, either among the hostages or the kidnappers. Hundreds of Algerians and four foreign hostages - two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya - were freed during the operation, APS reported.
British government sources have told the BBC that they are preparing for news of multiple British casualties. Earlier, Algerian Communications Minister Mohamed Said Belaid said: "Unfortunately, we deplore some deaths and some people wounded. We don't yet have the numbers," he said.
British government sources told the BBC that they were preparing for news of multiple British casualties.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson says ministers are still awaiting information from the Algerian government on the number of British dead, injured and missing.BBC political editor Nick Robinson says ministers are still awaiting information from the Algerian government on the number of British dead, injured and missing.
Hundreds of Algerian workers and some foreign workers were reported to have escaped during the military operation. Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a senior commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) until late last year.