Algeria: 'Seven Hostages Have Been Killed'

Seven hostages have reportedly been killed and 16 others freed amid reports of a bloody "final assault" on an Algerian gas plant taken over by militants.

Foreign Secretary William Hague says fewer than 10 British nationals are still at risk after a four-day stand-off but described the situation as "still going on".

He warned that the country needed to prepare for more "bad news" as the Algerian state news agency APS said seven foreign hostages had been killed by the Islamist militants.

Their nationalities have not been specified.

A local source told the Reuters news agency that 16 other hostages, including two Americans, two Germans and one Portuguese person, were free.

Reuters also reported that the plant has been mined by the terrorist group and is being cleared by Algerian troops.

A police checkpoint near the In Amenas gas installation

The country's special forces are said by APS to have stormed the natural gas complex in the middle of the Sahara desert in a "final assault".

Some 11 of the militants holding out inside the plant were reportedly killed in the attack, but the agency said the rebels had already taken the lives of seven of the remaining hostages.

Algerian authorities estimate that around 30 militants took over the In Amenas site on Wednesday.

With 18 already reported dead, the latest numbers would appear to indicate that the hostage crisis might finally be over.

Mr Hague was cautious in his comments on Saturday afternoon, stressing: "This situation is still going on. It remains a very difficult and dangerous situation."

The siege took place at the gas complex in eastern Algeria

He continued: "Of course our priority remains the welfare of British nationals caught up in this incident. The large majority of British nationals originally caught up in it are now safe and accounted for.

"As of now, there are fewer than 10 British nationals at risk or unaccounted for but that of course means we must of course continue to prepare ourselves for bad news."

Addressing the wider terrorist threat, he added: "This whole incident underlines the scale and ruthlessness of the terrorist threat that we and other nations face.

"We underline our resolve to deal with that and to defeat such terrorism and murder, working with allies across the world and including in North Africa."

Mr Hague chaired an emergency Cobra meeting earlier on Saturday and a second will be held later today.

A consular team is now on the ground to help the Britons who have escaped and ambassador Martyn Roper is travelling to the area.

Sky's Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge said the SAS are also on standby.

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