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Several workers were killed and wounded in the initial attack, but hundreds escaped. A rescue attempt of the captives by Algerian ground troops, backed by helicopters, released more hostages but appears to have left an unknown number dead. Rebel sources claimed that 34 foreign workers had been killed; Algerian government spokesmen put the number at seven, with a dozen of their captors killed, too.

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The bad news is that their ability to strike so boldly is likely to spook the Western oil operators who run facilities across the region. Governments are also likely to see this as a sign of the Sahel region’s jihadists, loosely linked under the umbrella of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), growing both stronger and better coordinated. The better news is that most of Algeria’s and Libya’s oil installations lie far from their mutual border, and their security will certainly now be taken more seriously. Importantly, too, In Amenas lies no less than 1,000km from the Malian border, and another thousand or so from the region where French forces are now engaged against jihadists. This renders practical coordination between isolated Islamist fighters rather difficult, to say the least. And lastly, just as the jihadists’ excessive boldness in Mali is what provoked French intervention, the hostage-taking in Algeria is likely to prompt tighter and more determined coordination between the region’s governments and outside powers.

http://www.economist.com/

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'Ongoing' and sensitive drama

A US official said the drama involving Western hostages at the remote Algerian gas field is still "ongoing and sensitive."

Earlier too, news reports said at least two Filipinos were killed in the hostage crisis at an Algerian gas plant, with captors demanding a prisoner swap and an end to French military action in Mali. An American hostage was also confirmed dead Saturday, even as the fate of other foreigners held hostage remained uncertain.

A report from The Times said that those killed in the Algeria hostage crisis included Filipinos. The report said "two Britons and two Filipinos were killed when Algerian troops stormed in."

When asked about this, the Palace could not confirm the information.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said, "We have been waiting for confirmation also from the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs). Medyo nahihirapan din po kasi ang DFA na kumuha ng kompirmasyon. The DFA has been getting information from our countrymen here na baka daw po nasama ‘yung kanilang mga kaanak doon sa mga na-hostage, wala pa ho tayo talagang verified information. We want to be very careful about it, given the sensitivity of the situation and the DFA is doing its best to get confirmation on this report."

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