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.