Algeria Crisis: Hostage-Takers ‘Taken Alive’ at Gas Plant
Five suspected members of the Islamist group which held foreign and local workers hostage at an Algerian gas plant have been arrested, reports say.
The reports came a day after the Algerian authorities said all 32 hostage-takers had been killed at the In Amenas gas installation.
At least 25 bodies were found at the complex on Sunday, reports say.
It is unclear whether they were captors or captives. Officials say a definitive death toll will be released later.
On Saturday officials said least 23 staff at the facility had died during the four-day siege, with some Western workers still unaccounted for.
The siege was ended in a raid by troops on Saturday.
Officials said the army launched its assault after Islamist militants began killing foreign hostages.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama have blamed “terrorists” for the hostages’ deaths.
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We are ready to negotiate with the west and the Algerian government, provided they stop their bombing of Mali’s Muslims”
Mokhtar Belmokhtar
Militant leader
Profile: Mokhtar Belmokhtar
Terror threat to last ‘decades’ - UK
And on Sunday French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described the hostage-taking as an “act of war”.
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