Algeria siege: 'Victims' as army tries to free hostages 17 January 2013 Last updated at 17:49 Algerian forces have moved against Islamic militants holding hostages at a gas facility in eastern Algeria, the state news agency reports. Four foreign hostages were freed but the operation resulted in a number of "victims," APS agency said. Algerian soldiers had been surrounding the facility near In Amenas that kidnappers occupied on Wednesday, after killing a Briton and an Algerian. Reports quoting militants said at least 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers died. Militants also told Mauritania's ANI news agency that seven foreign hostages were still alive after the Algerian military raid. Nearly 600 Algerian workers and four foreign hostages - two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya - were freed during the operation, APS reported. An Irishman who had been kidnapped was freed and has spoken to his family, Ireland's foreign ministry said. APS quoted an unnamed source as saying that "about half" the foreign hostages had been liberated. The Algerian military targeted two vehicles as they tried to escape from the site with an unknown number of people on board. Militants told local media that Algerian forces had opened fire from the air. It was not clear whether the Algerian military raid was ongoing. Japan asked Algeria to stop the operation and not to endanger the lives of the hostages. Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal called UK counterpart David Cameron to say the operation was under way at 11:30 GMT, Mr Cameron's spokesman said. Mr Cameron made clear that he would have preferred to have been informed in advance, but the Algerians said they had to act "immediately," the spokesman added. The White House said it was "seeking clarity" on the operation. Militants had earlier said they were holding 41 foreign nationals. They were believed to include British, Japanese, US and Norwegian citizens. Some 30 Algerians and 15 foreigners were reported to have escaped from the gas facility before the Algerian military intervened. 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. Mr Ould Kablia said the kidnappers had not entered Algeria from a neighbouring country. One statement purported to be from the hostage-takers called for an end to the French military intervention against Islamist rebels in neighbouring Mali. The BBC's Frank Gardner: We have to treat these reports with a lot of caution Algeria allowed France to use its airspace during its operation against Islamist militants who took control of northern Mali. The French operation began on Friday. "We have been informed by the UK and Algerian governments that the Algerian army is attempting to take control of the In Amenas site," BP said in a statement. Sadly, there have been some reports of casualties but we are still lacking any confirmed or reliable information.