Algeria: 'Seven Hostages Die As Stand-off Ends'

The hostage situation at an Algerian gas plant has been brought to an end with more deaths, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has said.

Seven hostages were reportedly killed and 16 others freed amid reports of a "final assault" by Algerian special forces on the complex that was taken over by Islamist militants.

Foreign Secretary William Hague says fewer than 10 British nationals were still at risk after a four-day stand-off.

He warned that the country needed to prepare for more "bad news" as the Algerian state news agency APS said seven foreign hostages had been killed by the militants.

Their nationalities have not been specified.

Mr Hammond, speaking during a news conference with US counterpart Leon Panetta, said: "The hostage situation has been brought to an end by a further assault by Algerian forces which has resulted in further loss of life."

A police checkpoint near the In Amenas gas installation

He said the loss of life was "appalling and unacceptable and we must be clear that it is the terrorists who bear sole responsibility for it."

A local source told the Reuters news agency that 16 other hostages, including two Americans, two Germans and one Portuguese national, were free.

Reuters also reported that the plant has been mined by the terrorist group and is being cleared by Algerian troops.

The country's special forces are said by APS to have stormed the natural gas complex in the middle of the Sahara desert in a "final assault".

Some 11 of the militants holding out inside the plant were reportedly killed in the attack, but the agency said the rebels had already taken the lives of seven of the remaining hostages.

The siege took place at the gas complex in eastern Algeria

Algerian authorities estimate that around 30 militants took over the In Amenas site on Wednesday.

With 18 already reported dead, the latest numbers appeared to indicate that the hostage crisis was over.

Mr Hague was cautious in his comments on Saturday afternoon, stressing: "This situation is still going on. It remains a very difficult and dangerous situation."

He continued: "Of course our priority remains the welfare of British nationals caught up in this incident. The large majority of British nationals originally caught up in it are now safe and accounted for.

"As of now, there are fewer than 10 British nationals at risk or unaccounted for but that of course means we must of course continue to prepare ourselves for bad news."

Addressing the wider terrorist threat, he added: "This whole incident underlines the scale and ruthlessness of the terrorist threat that we and other nations face.

"We underline our resolve to deal with that and to defeat such terrorism and murder, working with allies across the world and including in North Africa."

Mr Hague chaired an emergency Cobra meeting earlier on Saturday and a second will be held later today.

A consular team is now on the ground to help the Britons who have escaped and ambassador Martyn Roper is travelling to the area.

Sky's Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge said the SAS are also on standby.

In Amenas in eastern Algeria is near the border with Libya

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