Beijing, Jan. 20 (Xinhua-ANI): Algerian army's final rescue operation in the gas field of Tiguentourine freed four foreign hostages on Saturday, including a Norwegian and a Camerounian, a security source told Xinhua.
The rescue operation has ended Saturday, the source confirmed to Xinhua. Algerian troops then began to conduct a mine clearing operation in the gas field facility of Tiguentourine in In Amenas in Illizi province, as militants had put mines in the facility attempting to blow it up.
On Friday night, the militants burned part of the facilities, but the fire was later controlled by army troops and gas field workers.
Seven hostages were killed by kidnappers on Saturday, local APS news agency reported without specifying their nationalities. The final raid by Algerian troops killed 11 militants on Saturday.
Since Thursday, Algeria's Special Forces launched successive raids on the gas field compound to rescue the workers detained since Wednesday by an armed group linked to al-Qaida.
At least 573 Algerians and 100 foreign hostages were freed during the operation, according to preliminary figures. (Xinhua-ANI)
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