Algerian forces free 100 of the 132 foreigners taken hostage in Algeria

The Mulathameen group warned Algerians to "stay away from the installations of foreign companies as we will strike where it is least expected," ANI said.   

It was not immediately possible to verify the report but ANI has close links to the group led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar.

Algeria's In Amenas field, is at the heart of an oil and gas region that has attracted international firms in recent years partly because of its military-style security.  The In Amenas gas facility operated by BP, Norway's Statoil and OPEC member Algeria's state firm was attacked by militants on Wednesday.   

They kidnapped dozens of foreigners in retaliation for France's intervention in Mali. After a military raid on Thursday to end the crisis, an Algerian security source said at least seven foreigners were among 30 hostages killed.

This as hundreds of workers from international oil companies have been evacuated from Algeria on Thursday and many more will follow, BP said on Friday following the al-Qaeda-linked attack on a major gas facility.
   
"Three flights left Algeria yesterday, carrying a total of eleven BP employees alongside several hundred staff from other companies," BP said in a statement.
   
The first flight arrived in London, the second two flights landed in Palma in Majorca overnight and staff on these planes are expected to transfer on to final destinations on Friday.
   
"A fourth plane is expected to transport further staff out of the country today and we will arrange further flights as necessary," BP said.

Here's a summary of the latest information on the hostages:

AUSTRIA: An Austrian man who was trapped when Islamist militants took dozens of gas workers hostage in Algeria has been freed, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger "has been informed by the Algerian foreign minister that the Austrian who was in this situation is safe and sound", a ministry spokesman said. "We have no further details as to how he got out."     

ALGERIA: Hundreds of Algerians worked at the gas plant, but the Algerian media say most were released. The Norwegian energy company Statoil says three of its Algerian employees were hostages.

NORWAY: Nine Norwegian employees of Statoil are hostages, the company says.      

UNITED STATES: Seven Americans were hostages, the militants said, but they claimed only two survived the Algerian strafing Thursday. The U.S. has confirmed that some of its citizens are hostages but gave no numbers.      

BRITAIN: "Several" British nationals are among the hostages, the U.K. government says. Algeria's state news agency says two Britons were killed in Thursday's assault. Later on Friday, British Foreign Office said that the hostage crisis in Algeria 'remains ongoing'.

JAPAN: The government said Japanese company JGC Corp, which provides services at the complex, confirmed three of its employees were safe and the status of 14 others was unclear. The statement didn't address earlier media reports that three Japanese were hostages. 

On Friday, Japan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Algerian ambassador demanding answers over the rescue operation.

PHILIPPINES: Algeria's state news agency said two Filipino hostages were killed. Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said Friday at least one Filipino escaped with injuries during the military operation and he had no information about any fatalities.      

MALAYSIA: Two Malaysians were held, the government says.      

IRELAND: A 36-year-old Irish man was among the hostages but is now safe and free, according to Ireland's government.      

FRANCE: President Francois Hollande says there are French hostages but gave no exact number.This as, France's Interior Minister Manuel Valls said on Friday that the French authorities are in contact with two French hostages who have left the desert gas facility in Algeria where they were being held by Islamist militants.  "We have news from two of them who have returned," he told RTL radio, without clarifying whether they were back in France.   

He said authorities had no information about two other presumed French hostages. "As for the two others, if there were two others, we ... hope to get new information early today."      

Positions:

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Friday militants who attacked the United States and its citizens would be run to ground, in the first comments by a senior US official on a hostage attack by Islamist militants in Algeria.    

"Terrorists should be on notice that they will find no sanctuary, no refuge, not in Algeria, not in North Africa, not anywhere," he said in a speech to security specialists in London.    

"Those who would want only attack our country and our people will have no place to hide."

For his part, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday the Algerian government had told him an operation to rescue hostages held by Islamist militants at a gas complex in Algeria was still ongoing at mid-morning.    

"I have just this very moment spoken to the Algerian prime minister who confirmed to me that the operation is ongoing," Ayrault said, adding that he was also in constant contact with the governments of other affected countries.    

"The death of several hostages is to be deplored," Ayrault told journalists in a New Year speech.

AP/REUTERS