Algeria's rescue operation ends, 4 hostages freed
Updated: 2013-01-20 01:06
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
In AMENAS, Algeria - Algerian army's final rescue operation in the gas field of Tiguentourine freed four foreign hostages on Saturday, a security source told Xinhua.
The freed hostages, including a Norwegian, a Camerounian and two Britons, all looked shocked but in sound health.
Algeria's rescue operation on Saturday saw nine militants and eight foreign hostages killed, according to the source. Earlier in the day, local APS news agency reported that 11 militants were killed Saturday, and that seven hostages were killed by kidnappers, without specifying their nationalities.
The rescue operation has ended Saturday, the source confirmed to Xinhua. Algerian troops then began to conduct a mine clearing operation in the gas field facility of Tiguentourine in In Amenas in Illizi province, as militants had put mines in the facility attempting to blow it up.
On Friday night, the militants burned part of the facilities, but the fire was later controlled by army troops and gas field workers.
Since Thursday, Algeria's Special Forces launched successive raids on the gas field compound to rescue the workers detained since Wednesday by an armed group linked to al-Qaida.
At least 573 Algerians and 100 foreign hostages were freed during the operation, according to preliminary figures.
Related readings:
Americans among hostages in Algeria
Norwegian PM confirms 13 Norwegians taken hostage in Algeria
- Li Na on Time cover, makes influential 100 list
- FBI releases photos of 2 Boston bombings suspects
- World's wackiest hairstyles
- Sandstorms strike Northwest China
- Never-seen photos of Madonna on display
- H7N9 outbreak linked to waterfowl migration
- Dozens feared dead in Texas plant blast
- Venezuelan court rules out manual votes counting
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
TCM - Keeping healthy in Chinese way |
Poultry industry under pressure |
Today's Top News
Boston bombing suspect reported cornered on boat
7.0-magnitude quake hits Sichuan
Cross-talk artist helps to spread the word
'Green' awareness levels drop in Beijing
Palace Museum spruces up
First couple on Time's list of most influential
H7N9 flu transmission studied
Trading channels 'need to broaden'
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |