The BBC’s Frank Gardner says reports suggest some foreign hostages have been tied to explosives
An Algerian military operation is under way at a gas facility in eastern Algeria where hostages are being held, the British Foreign Office says.
Algerian soldiers had been surrounding the facility near In Amenas that kidnappers occupied on Wednesday, after killing a Briton and an Algerian.
Media reports quoting militants said 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers had been killed in the operation.