As many as 31 workers, including 19 foreign nationals, who were taken hostage by an armed group in a gas field in Algeria, have been killed since the beginning of the Algerian army's rescue operation, Xinhua reported Saturday.
A source told Xinhua that nine militants were also killed, while three were arrested alive, since the army's Special Forces launched the operation Thursday at the Tinguentourine gas field.
The source said there were still a few hostages in the gas field complex, specifying that the Special Forces were advancing compartment by compartment in the facility.
The Special Forces found bodies as well as workers hiding in the corners of the facility, the source told Xinhua.
Algeria's official APS news agency earlier said more than 670 hostages, including 573 Algerians and about 100 foreigners, were freed in the raid, which also left 12 hostages and 18 militants dead.