ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Algeria's state news service says nearly 100 out of the 132 foreign hostages kidnapped by Islamist militants have been freed from a gas plant in the Sahara desert.
The report by APS indicated a potential breakthrough in a bloody siege that began when militants seized the plant early Wednesday and reflected a significant jump in the number of foreign hostages involved.
The Friday report from the government news agency, citing a security official, did not mention any casualties in the battles between Algerian forces and the militants. But earlier it had said that 18 militants had been killed.
It was not clear whether the remaining foreigners were still captive or had been killed in the Algerian military operation to free them that began Thursday.
Copyright © 2013 Associated Press
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By KARIM KABIR and PAUL SCHEMM
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Algeria's state news service says about 60 foreign hostages are unaccounted for in the standoff with Islamist militants now entering its third day.
The news service said more than half the 132 foreign hostages had been freed, but the report could not account for the rest. The report Friday also said special forces had resumed negotiations after an assault Thursday at the gas plant deep in the Sahara.
A Mauritanian news site that frequently receives messages from al-Qaida linked militants said the hostage-takers in Algeria had offered to trade two captive Americans for two jailed terror figures in the United States.
One of the two, Omar Abdel Rahman, masterminded the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
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ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Mauritania news site: Militants in Algeria want swap of 2 Americans for jailed terror figures.
Copyright © 2013 Associated Press--
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ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Algerian state news says about 60 foreign hostages unaccounted for, negotiations have resumed.
Copyright © 2013 Associated Press--
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LOLITA C. BALDOR
LONDON (AP) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the U.S. is working with the British and Algerian governments to assess what's happening on the ground at a natural gas complex in the Sahara where Islamic militants are holding hostages from at least 10 countries.
The fate of many of the captives remains uncertain.
Speaking Friday at Kings College in London, Panetta said the U.S. is "working around the clock to ensure the safe return of our citizens."
Panetta says the terrorists should be on notice that they'll find no sanctuary in Algeria or North Africa.
He says anyone who looks to attack the U.S. will have "no place to hide."
The Pentagon says Panetta will meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
They will discuss Islamic militant operations in Mali and Algeria.
Copyright © 2013 Associated Press
