An unknown number of Japanese taken hostage at a natural gas complex in Algeria were killed or are missing, the Algerian government told Tokyo early Sunday after eliminating the hostage takers, a militant Islamic group.
Meanwhile, French public radio reported Sunday that an Algerian employee at JGC said he witnessed the militants killing nine Japanese employees at the complex on Wednesday ¡ª the day the crisis started.
Reacting to word from the government, JGC Corp. spokesman Takeshi Endo said Sunday that ¡°we are now facing a severe situation,¡± although the company hasn¡¯t yet confirmed the reports.
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