35 hostages killed in Algerian raid: Militants

Algeria raided a remote Sahara gas plant on Thursday in an attempt to free dozens of foreign hostages held by militants with ties to Mali’s rebel Islamists. The militants claimed strafing by Algerian helicopters killed 35 hostages and 15 kidnappers when it opened fire as the militants tried to leave the complex with their hostages. A militant spokesman said they would blow up the remaining hostages if Algerian army approached.