A military operation to retake an Algerian gas plant has ended with the deaths of 32 Islamist kidnappers and at least 48 hostages over the course of the crisis, Algerian ministers say. Seven hostages were killed by their captors in the final assault as troops tried to free them, according to state news agency APS. One Romanian hostage later died of his wounds. Five kidnappers were reportedly arrested by Algerian authorities. Three more were said to be at large. However, information is sketchy and this cannot be independently confirmed. Gunmen with al-Qaeda links attacked the plant, which housed hundreds of foreign and Algerian Q&A: Hostage crisis in Algeria, on 16 January. Some 685 Algerian workers at the plant and 107 foreign workers were freed, Algerian state media said.