An Algerian military operation to free hostages being held by militants at a desert gas plant is now over, state news agency APS reports.

Algerian state TV said four foreigners were killed in the operation. Others were freed, but there was no confirmation of how many hostages survived.

The British government said it believed the gas plant was still being searched.

Al-Qaeda-linked fighters occupied the facility near In Amenas on Wednesday.

Earlier, the militants themselves were reported to have said that at least 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers died.

Hundreds of Algerians and four foreign hostages – two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya – were freed during the operation, APS reported.

Earlier, Algerian Communications Minister Mohamed Said Belaid said: “Unfortunately, we deplore some deaths and some people wounded. We don’t yet have the numbers,” he said.

British government sources told the BBC that they were preparing for news of multiple British casualties.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson says ministers are still awaiting information from the Algerian government on the number of British dead, injured and missing.

Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a senior commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) until late last year.

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