US condemns Algeria militant attack

Islamist militants have attacked and occupied a gas facility in the east of Algeria, seizing a number of foreign hostages.

The Algerian state news agency says at least two foreign nationals were killed in the early morning attack.

Algerian security forces are reported to have surrounded the site, which is operated by BP, the Algerian state oil company and a Norwegian firm, Statoil.

There has been confirmation that British, Norwegian and Japanese nationals are among those involved.

At a briefing in Washington, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed that Americans were also amongst those seized.

She added that the US condemned the attack.