A recap of the Algeria crisis:

Bus attack: 0500 local time 16 January: Heavily armed gunmen attack two buses carrying gas field workers towards In Amenas airfield. A Briton and an Algerian die in the fighting.

Hostages taken: The militants drive to the installation at Tigantourine and take Algerian and foreign workers hostage in the living area and the main gas facility at the complex.

Army surround complex: Security forces and the Algerian army surround the hostage-takers. Western leaders, including the UK's David Cameron, urge Algeria to consult them before taking action.

Army attacks: 1200 (1300 GMT) 17 January: Algerian forces attack as militants try to move some of their captives from the facility. Reports say some hostages escape, but others are killed.

Final assault: The Algerians ended the raid on 19 January, killing the last 11 captors after they had killed seven hostages, state media reported. Twenty-three hostages and 32 militants in total are now known to have died


They Algerian interior ministry said troops had recovered:

six machine guns
21 rifles
two shotguns
two 60mm mortars with shells
six 60mm missiles with launchers
two rocket-propelled grenades with eight rockets
10 grenades in explosive belts
Weapons allegedly seized from the kidnappers were shown on Algerian TV.


US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta: "We cannot accept attacks against our citizens abroad"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21101092.