Report: 20 Algerian Hostages Escape

An Algerian official said today that 20 hostages – including some Americans – had escaped from a gas facility where al Qaeda militants have taken dozens of foreign nationals hostage.

Algerian troops surrounded the facility on Thursday, one day after the militants seized it.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague confirmed at least one British worker had died, but said that “a number of British nationals are being held,” while U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also could not confirm the exact number of Americans involved.

The kidnappers took over the facility Wednesday after killing a British worker and an Algerian. Some 30 Algerian workers escaped Thursday, the Associated Press reported. The terrorists have reportedly demanded an end to the French-led military invasion of Mali, among other things. Read more about it at BBC News.

{Andy Heller-Matzav.com Newscenter}