23 hostages, 32 militants killed in Algerian hostages crisis

ALGIERS -  A total of 23 hostages and 32 militants were killed in an appalling hostage crisis at a gas field facility of Tiguentourine in In Amenas in Algeria's southern province of Illizi, the official APS news agency reported, citing a statement of the Interior Ministry released on Saturday.

The gas plant and the town of In Amenas in Algeria is seen in this image taken by the SPOT 6 satellite, build and operated by Astrium, on January 8, 2013 released to Reuters by Astrium on Jan 19, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

A number of 685 Algerian workers and 107 foreign nationals have been freed, according to the ministry.

The Algerian army's Special Forces recouped a load of foreign military uniforms, ammunition, explosives and some arms, including six FMPK machine guns, 21 PMAK rifles, two shotgun glaces, two 60 mm mortars, six C5 60 mm missiles with launchers, two RPGs and ten grenades set in the explosive belts, according to the report.