20 hostages escape from Islamist militants at Algerian gas plants
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This undated hand out picture released by Norway's energy group Statoil on Jan 17, 2013 shows the In Amenas gas field, jointly operated by British oil giant BP, Norway's Statoil and state-run Algerian energy firm Sonatrach, in eastern Algeria near the Libyan border. Algerian troops surrounded Islamists holding foreign hostages at the gas field on Jan 17, a day after a deadly attack the gunmen said was in reprisal for Algeria's cooperation in French operations in Mali. --PHOTO: AFP
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - An Algerian security official said at least 20 foreigners have escaped from the natural gas plant deep in the Sahara desert where Islamist militants are holding dozens of hostages.
The official said those escaping included Americans and Europeans. He did not give any further details.
Militants attacked the Ain Amenas gas complex 1,300 kilometres south of Algiers on Wednesday, taking dozens of foreign workers hostage. Those being held included Japanese, Britons, French, Americans, Malaysians and Norwegians, among others.
The gas plant has been surrounded by the Algerian army and there's now a tense standoff with the militants.
