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Three Britons confirmed dead in Algeria - PM Three Britons confirmed dead in Algeria - PM
(35 minutes later)
Three Britons are confirmed to have died and three more are unaccounted for after the Algeria hostage crisis, the prime minister has said.Three Britons are confirmed to have died and three more are unaccounted for after the Algeria hostage crisis, the prime minister has said.
One further UK resident is also thought to be dead. The figures include a Briton who was killed on Wednesday.One further UK resident is also thought to be dead. The figures include a Briton who was killed on Wednesday.
The 22 other Britons who survived the crisis are now back in the UK.The 22 other Britons who survived the crisis are now back in the UK.
A raid by Algerian troops ended a four-day siege at the In Amenas gas facility on Saturday. Algeria says at least 23 hostages and 32 militants died.A raid by Algerian troops ended a four-day siege at the In Amenas gas facility on Saturday. Algeria says at least 23 hostages and 32 militants died.
Algeria's minister of communications said the final death toll might rise and there would be an announcement in the next few hours.Algeria's minister of communications said the final death toll might rise and there would be an announcement in the next few hours.
Its government also said the militants were from six different nationalities.Its government also said the militants were from six different nationalities.
'Cowardly attack''Cowardly attack'
Speaking at Chequers, Mr Cameron said the attack was a "stark reminder" of the continuing terrorist threat and said he would use Britain's chairmanship of the G8 to ensure that it was at the top of the international agenda.Speaking at Chequers, Mr Cameron said the attack was a "stark reminder" of the continuing terrorist threat and said he would use Britain's chairmanship of the G8 to ensure that it was at the top of the international agenda.
"This is a global threat and it will require a global response. It will require a response that is about years, even decades, rather than months," he said."This is a global threat and it will require a global response. It will require a response that is about years, even decades, rather than months," he said.
"It requires a response that is patient and painstaking, that is tough but also intelligent, but above all has an absolutely iron resolve and that is what we will deliver over these coming years.""It requires a response that is patient and painstaking, that is tough but also intelligent, but above all has an absolutely iron resolve and that is what we will deliver over these coming years."
The British survivors had flown back to the UK on government and BP chartered flights overnight and were now being reunited with their families, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.The British survivors had flown back to the UK on government and BP chartered flights overnight and were now being reunited with their families, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said: "We know that that two Scots, or people with immediate Scottish family connections, are believed to have been killed."
He said their families had been informed but added: "We will provide details as soon as we are satisfied that the information is full and final."
"We know that eight Scottish survivors are all now back in the UK. While eight families can thankfully welcome home their loved ones, our thoughts must be with the families of those who may have been lost in Algeria," said Mr Salmond.
The crisis began on Wednesday when militants attacked two buses carrying foreign workers to the remote site in south-eastern Algeria. A Briton and an Algerian reportedly died in the incident.The crisis began on Wednesday when militants attacked two buses carrying foreign workers to the remote site in south-eastern Algeria. A Briton and an Algerian reportedly died in the incident.
The militants then took Algerians and foreign workers hostage at the complex, which was quickly surrounded by the Algerian army.The militants then took Algerians and foreign workers hostage at the complex, which was quickly surrounded by the Algerian army.
The Algerian armed forces attacked on Thursday as militants tried to move some of their captives from the facility.The Algerian armed forces attacked on Thursday as militants tried to move some of their captives from the facility.
Mr Cameron paid his condolences to the bereaved families, who had undergone "an absolutely dreadful ordeal".Mr Cameron paid his condolences to the bereaved families, who had undergone "an absolutely dreadful ordeal".
He said questions would be asked about the Algerian response to the crisis, but added: "The responsibility for these deaths lies squarely with the terrorists who launched these vicious and cowardly attacks.He said questions would be asked about the Algerian response to the crisis, but added: "The responsibility for these deaths lies squarely with the terrorists who launched these vicious and cowardly attacks.
"When you are dealing with a terrorist incident on this scale, with up to 30 terrorists, it is extremely difficult to respond and get this right in every respect.""When you are dealing with a terrorist incident on this scale, with up to 30 terrorists, it is extremely difficult to respond and get this right in every respect."
The prime minister said that there were clear similarities with the terrorist threat from Afghanistan and Pakistan, although it was on a different scale.
"What we face is an extremist, Islamist, al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group. Just as we had to deal with that in Pakistan and in Afghanistan so the world needs to come together to deal with this threat in north Africa," he said.
A statement from the kidnappers said the assault on the gas plant was launched in retaliation for French intervention against Islamist groups in neighbouring Mali.A statement from the kidnappers said the assault on the gas plant was launched in retaliation for French intervention against Islamist groups in neighbouring Mali.
However, France decided only last week to intervene militarily in Mali. Analysts say the assault on the gas facility was well-planned and would have required advance research, as well as possibly inside help.However, France decided only last week to intervene militarily in Mali. Analysts say the assault on the gas facility was well-planned and would have required advance research, as well as possibly inside help.
Algerian officials said the hostage-takers belonged to a new Islamist group formed by a veteran Algerian militant and kidnapper, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who recently broke from al-Qaeda.Algerian officials said the hostage-takers belonged to a new Islamist group formed by a veteran Algerian militant and kidnapper, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who recently broke from al-Qaeda.
State news agency APS said 685 Algerian workers and 107 out of 132 foreigners working at the plant had been freed.State news agency APS said 685 Algerian workers and 107 out of 132 foreigners working at the plant had been freed.
The nationalities of some of the hostages killed are still not known, but as well as the Britons, US, Norwegian, and Japanese nationals are still missing.The nationalities of some of the hostages killed are still not known, but as well as the Britons, US, Norwegian, and Japanese nationals are still missing.
A Colombian citizen resident in the UK is believed to be among the dead. A Colombian citizen resident in the UK is believed to be among the dead, the Colombian president has said, adding the information about Carlos Estrada was "not 100%".
Some details are beginning to emerge of the the British hostages who survived. No details have been given of the British hostages.
Two have been named as Lou Fear, 56, from Louth in Lincolnshire and Allen McCloud, 53, from Plymouth in Devon. But some details have emerged of those who survived.
Two of the survivors have been named as Lou Fear, 56, from Louth in Lincolnshire and Allen McCloud, 53, from Plymouth in Devon.
'Stressful''Stressful'
Mr McCloud's brother, Malcolm, told the BBC: "We are all very relieved that Allen is now safe, it's been a long stressful four days for the family. Our thoughts are now with the other families who were not so lucky as us."Mr McCloud's brother, Malcolm, told the BBC: "We are all very relieved that Allen is now safe, it's been a long stressful four days for the family. Our thoughts are now with the other families who were not so lucky as us."
But he went on to criticise the British authorities and for BP and Orion for failing to keep their father, who lives in Thailand, informed.But he went on to criticise the British authorities and for BP and Orion for failing to keep their father, who lives in Thailand, informed.
He said: "The lack of information from all the relevant sources was very poor. We were kept up to date from friends who worked in the oil and gas industry and the news."He said: "The lack of information from all the relevant sources was very poor. We were kept up to date from friends who worked in the oil and gas industry and the news."
On Saturday Iain Strachan, 38, from Howwood in Renfrewshire, Scotland, said he was "very relieved to be out" and the Algerian army's assistance had been "fantastic".On Saturday Iain Strachan, 38, from Howwood in Renfrewshire, Scotland, said he was "very relieved to be out" and the Algerian army's assistance had been "fantastic".
Other freed hostages have been reported as Darren Matthews, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Teesside; Mark Grant, 29, from Grangemouth, near Falkirk; Alan Wright, 37, from Portsoy in Aberdeenshire; Peter Hunter, 53, from County Durham; David Murray, 47, from Kirkby in Merseyside; Huw Edwards, 55, from Macclesfield in Cheshire; and Stephen McFaul, 36, from Belfast.Other freed hostages have been reported as Darren Matthews, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Teesside; Mark Grant, 29, from Grangemouth, near Falkirk; Alan Wright, 37, from Portsoy in Aberdeenshire; Peter Hunter, 53, from County Durham; David Murray, 47, from Kirkby in Merseyside; Huw Edwards, 55, from Macclesfield in Cheshire; and Stephen McFaul, 36, from Belfast.
One Algerian worker told the Associated Press at one point the militants caught a man he described as a Briton.
The man, who gave his name only as Chabane, said: "They threatened him until he called out in English to his friends, telling them, 'Come out, come out, they're not going to kill you. They're looking for the Americans'.
"A few minutes later, they blew him away," he said. Chabane's account could not be independently confirmed.
The In Amenas gas field is situated at Tigantourine, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of the town of In Amenas and 1,300km (800 miles) south-east of Algiers.The In Amenas gas field is situated at Tigantourine, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of the town of In Amenas and 1,300km (800 miles) south-east of Algiers.
The plant is jointly run by BP, Norway's Statoil and Algeria's state-owned oil company.The plant is jointly run by BP, Norway's Statoil and Algeria's state-owned oil company.
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