Algeria siege dead and survivors flown back to Japan
(about 3 hours later)
A plane carrying the bodies of nine of the 10 Japanese victims of the Algerian hostage crisis has landed in the Japanese capital Tokyo.
A plane carrying the bodies of nine of the 10 Japanese victims of the Algerian hostage crisis has landed in the Japan's capital, Tokyo.
Seven survivors of the siege were also on the government-chartered plane.
Seven survivors were also on the government-chartered plane.
Japan suffered the highest confirmed death toll from the crisis.
Japan suffered the highest confirmed number of deaths from the four-day siege at the In Amenas gas facility.
On Wednesday the Algerian government said it believed 37 foreign hostages of eight nationalities and one Algerian worker were killed during the crisis at a gas plant in the desert.
On Wednesday, the Algerian government said it believed 37 foreign hostages from eight countries and one Algerian worker had been killed.
Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said 29 of the militants who overran the facility near the desert town of In Amenas had been killed and three captured alive. Five hostages are still unaccounted for.
Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said 29 of the militants who overran the facility had also died and that three had been captured alive. Five hostages are still unaccounted for.
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida was present at Haneda airport as the plane landed, as were representatives of engineering firm JGC Corp, which employed all the Japanese nationals caught up in the crisis.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida was present at Haneda airport as the plane landed on Friday, as were representatives of engineering firm JGC Corp, which employed - directly or indirectly - all the Japanese nationals caught up in the crisis.
The Japanese government has confirmed that a senior JGC executive, former Vice President Tadanori Aratani, was among the dead.
The Japanese government has confirmed that a senior JGC adviser and former vice-president, Tadanori Aratani, was among the dead.
The coffins were unloaded during a brief ceremony and bouquets of white flowers were laid on top of them.
The nine coffins were unloaded during a brief ceremony and bouquets of white flowers were laid on top of them.
Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Minoru Kiuchi, who is in Algeria to locate the last Japanese victim, is expected to return with the body, Japan's Kyodo news agency reports.
Vice-Foreign Minister Minoru Kiuchi, who is in Algeria, is expected to return soon with the body of the last Japanese victim, the Kyodo news agency reports.
Also on Friday, the Philippine government raised the confirmed death toll of Filipinos from the crisis to eight.
Canadian investigation
"His body was positively identified by our team in Algeria. We still have one unaccounted for," Philippine foreign ministry spokesman Raul Hernandez told the AFP news agency.
Meanwhile, Canada said it has sent police to Algiers to investigate the government's claim that two Canadians were among the hostage takers.
One of them was Tore Bech, the stepfather of Norway's Minister of International Development, Heikki Holmas. Three Statoil employees are are still missing.
The Philippines meanwhile said eight of its nationals were now known to have died.
"[The eighth victim's] body was positively identified by our team in Algeria. We still have one unaccounted for," foreign ministry spokesman Raul Hernandez told the AFP news agency.
Canada said it had sent police to Algiers to investigate the government's assertion that two Canadian nationals were among the hostage-takers.
Mr Sellal said the raid had been co-ordinated by a Canadian named only as Chedad - a common Arab surname in the region.
Mr Sellal said the raid had been co-ordinated by a Canadian named only as Chedad - a common Arab surname in the region.
The crisis began on 16 January when militants attacked two buses carrying foreign workers to the remote site in eastern Algeria. A Briton and an Algerian died in the initial raid.
The crisis began on 16 January when militants attacked two buses carrying foreign workers from the In Amenas gas facility, which lies in the desert in eastern Algeria, not far from the border with Libya. A Briton and an Algerian died in the initial raid.
The militants then took expatriates hostage at the complex, which was quickly surrounded by the Algerian army. Security forces stormed the complex on 19 January.
The militants then took other foreign workers hostage at the gas complex, which was quickly surrounded by the Algerian army. Special forces stormed the living area on 19 January and the gas treatment plant two days later.
Algerian state media said later that about 700 Algerian workers at the plant had escaped.
Algerian state media said later that about 700 Algerian workers at the plant had escaped.
Bus attack: 05:00 local time 16 January: Heavily armed gunmen attack two buses carrying gas field workers towards In Amenas airfield. A Briton and an Algerian die in the fighting.
Hostages taken: The militants drive to the installation at Tigantourine and take Algerian and foreign workers hostage in the living area and the main gas facility at the complex.
Army surround complex: Security forces and the Algerian army surround the hostage-takers. Western leaders, including the UK's David Cameron, urge Algeria to consult them before taking action.
Army attacks: 12:00 (13:00 GMT) 17 January: Algerian forces attack as militants try to move some of their captives from the facility. Reports say some hostages escape, but others are killed.
Final assault: The Algerians ended the raid on 19 January, killing the last 11 captors after they had killed seven hostages, state media reported. At least 48 hostages and 32 militants in total are now believed to have died.
Bus attack: 05:00 local time 16 January: Heavily armed gunmen attack two buses carrying gas field workers towards In Amenas airfield. A Briton and an Algerian die in the fighting.
Hostages taken: The militants drive to the installation at Tigantourine and take Algerian and foreign workers hostage in the living area and the main gas facility at the complex.
Army surround complex: Security forces and the Algerian army surround the hostage-takers. Western leaders, including the UK's David Cameron, urge Algeria to consult them before taking action.
Army attacks: 12:00 (13:00 GMT) 17 January: Algerian forces attack as militants try to move some of their captives from the facility. Reports say some hostages escape, but others are killed.
Final assault: The Algerians ended the raid on 19 January, killing the last 11 captors after they had killed seven hostages, state media reported. At least 48 hostages and 32 militants in total are now believed to have died.
