” A total of 650 hostages have been freed by Algerian Special Forces from Islamist militants who seized a gas complex deep in the desert, according to the state media.
Of those taken hostage on Wednesday, 573 were Algerians, according to the state-run Algerian Press Service news agency. It said ‘over half’ of the 132 foreigners workers held in the hostage crisis have been freed.”
Source:Fear and confusion as Algerian hostage crisis enters third day – CNN.com