Hague says 'quite likely' some hostages were executed

Foreign Secretary William Hague has told Jeremy Vine he thinks it 'quite likely' that some of the hostages killed in Algeria had been executed. He described the Algerian armed forces as 'very experienced and powerful'.

William Hague said the British government would like to have been consulted by the Algerian government but that it was important not to 'jump in and criticise' until more was known.

He called for the UK to show sympathy and solidarity with the Algerian people and government and stressed there was 'no political justification' for the terrorists' actions.

When asked about a possible referendum on the UK's relationship with the EU, the Foreign Secretary said there should be 'democratic consent' and that there was a 'strong case' for people to 'have their say'. He said he wanted the EU to succeed but that changes had to be made.