Algerian minister confirms hostages killed; raid ongoing

17 January 2013, 23:23 (GMT+04:00)

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The military operation to free hostages being held at an Algerian gas complex was continuing Thursday, the country's Information Minister Mohammed Said said, confirming deaths among the hostages without giving a number, dpa reported.

"The army's operation is continuing," Said told state television and radio in which he confirmed that several hostages - foreign and Algerian - had been freed - but that some had also been killed or injured.

Several of the hostage-takers had also been killed, he said.

Defending the aerial raid, he said the army intervened because the hostage-takers wanted to take the captives out of the country.