Gunmen claim the attack in which two people were killed was in reprisal for Algeria's cooperation in French operations in Mali.

Ireland's Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton will attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels today where the Algerian hostage situation will be discussed.

A 36 year old Irishman is among a group of 41 people who've been held since an attack on a gas field owned by BP and Statoil yesterday.

The initial attack has also left two people dead.

EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation at a meeting today. 

British Foreign secretary William Hague says his government will do all it can to help.

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