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Algeria siege: 37 foreigners died, PM says Algeria siege: 37 foreigners died, PM says
(35 minutes later)
Algeria's Prime Minister has said 37 foreigners from eight nationalities and one Algerian worker were killed during the hostage crisis at a gas plant.Algeria's Prime Minister has said 37 foreigners from eight nationalities and one Algerian worker were killed during the hostage crisis at a gas plant.
PM Abdelmalek Sellal said 29 of the militants who overran the facility near the desert town of In Amenas had been killed and three captured alive.PM Abdelmalek Sellal said 29 of the militants who overran the facility near the desert town of In Amenas had been killed and three captured alive.
One Canadian was among the hostage takers, he added.One Canadian was among the hostage takers, he added.
The four-day siege ended on Sunday when Algerian troops recaptured the site. Five hostages remain unaccounted for. The four-day siege ended at the weekend when Algerian troops recaptured the site. Five hostages are still missing.
Japan on Monday said seven of its nationals had been killed and three others remained missing.Japan on Monday said seven of its nationals had been killed and three others remained missing.
US officials confirmed that three Americans were among the dead, with seven survivors.US officials confirmed that three Americans were among the dead, with seven survivors.
The foreigners killed or still missing also include workers from the UK, Norway, Romania, Malaysia, the Philippines and Romania. UK Prime Minister David Cameron said thee Britons had been killed, with three others missing and presumed dead.
He said the hostage crisis highlighted the need for a "strong security response" matched by an "intelligent political response".
The foreigners killed or still missing also include workers from Norway, Romania, Malaysia, the Philippines and Romania.
Mr Sellal praised the decision by Algerian special forces to storm the site, adding that the aim of the kidnappers was to "blow up the gas plant".Mr Sellal praised the decision by Algerian special forces to storm the site, adding that the aim of the kidnappers was to "blow up the gas plant".
"The terrorists also shot some of the hostages in the head, killing them," he stressed."The terrorists also shot some of the hostages in the head, killing them," he stressed.
Nearly 700 Algerian workers and more than 100 foreigners escaped - most of them after Algerian forces drove the militants from the residential barracks on Thursday.
The prime minister said the kidnappers had crossed into the country from northern Mali, and that they were from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Mali, Niger, Canada and Mauritania.The prime minister said the kidnappers had crossed into the country from northern Mali, and that they were from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Mali, Niger, Canada and Mauritania.
The militants said they had taken hostages in retaliation for French intervention against Islamists in Mali earlier this month.The militants said they had taken hostages in retaliation for French intervention against Islamists in Mali earlier this month.
However Mr Sellal said the attack on the gas plant had been planned for more than two months.However Mr Sellal said the attack on the gas plant had been planned for more than two months.
Algerian police say it was organised by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a militant leader who recently fell out with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which is based in Algeria.