ALGIERS (AFP) - Algerian special forces (APS) have freed about 100 foreign hostages from Islamist gunmen at a remote gas plant near the Libyan border, but some 30 are still missing, national media said today.

"Around 100 foreigners out of 132 hostages seized by a terrorist group that attacked the Tiguentourine gas plant on Wednesday have been freed," APS reported, citing a security official.

The Algerian news agency had said earlier that "more than half" of the foreign hostages, as well as 573 Algerians had been freed in the rescue operation.