Hostages missing after Algeria raid on In Amenas plant

An Algerian army operation to free hostages at a gas facility in the desert has left a number of Islamist militants and their captives missing.

State TV said four foreign hostages had been killed in the raid. The militants had claimed to be holding 41.

Some hostages were freed, but the number of survivors was unconfirmed and UK officials said they were preparing for news of many British casualties.

Al-Qaeda-linked fighters occupied the facility near In Amenas on Wednesday.

During Thursday's raid many Algerian and four foreign hostages - two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya - were freed, state news agency APS reported.

Earlier, the militants reportedly said that at least 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers died, and that seven foreign hostages had survived.

Late on Thursday. AFP news agency quoted Algerian officials as saying the army had not secured the whole site and that it was still being searched.

The militants said they had taken hostages in retaliation for French military intervention in neighbouring Mali.

Algerian Communications Minister Mohamed Said Belaid said a "significant number of terrorists" had been killed.