Algeria: Missing Norwegian hostage escaped

One of the missing Norwegian Statoil employees held hostage in Algeria, has managed to escape, and was Friday morning receiving medical care at a local In Amena hospital.

His condition is described as stable, and he has been in contact with his family in Norway, Statoil reports.

This means that nine out of 17 Statoil employees are safe, but that eight Norwegian Statoil staff members are still unaccounted for.

During the early hours of Friday morning two planes from Statoil have left Algeria with altogether 40 Norwegian employees from other Statoil installations. These will arrive in Norway sometime Friday.

According to Norwegian authorities, the Algerian military action against the Islamist militants holding the Statoil/BP gas plant was still not finished Friday morning.

(NRK)