PARIS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- President Francois Hollande on Thursday confirmed that French nationals were among dozens of foreigners kidnapped after Islamists attacked a gas field in Algeria.
"I have in mind the lives of our citizens. There were and there are French nationals at this facility," said Hollande.
"The situation is very confused on this site... The best is to say the least. I will say nothing that can endanger their lives," he added.
In a joint news conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, Hollande expressed his faith in the Algerian authorities' ability to rescue the hostages.
Reports said 34 hostages and 15 raiders were killed in Algerian raid while 15 other captives escaped, among them two French nationals.
On Wednesday, Islamists claimed they had kidnapped up to 41 foreigner workers in Amenas gas facility which is operated by a joint venture including British oil firm BP, Norwegian firm Statoil and Algerian state company Sonatrach.
According to Algerian News Agency (APS), the raiders killed two people, including a British.
The attack was said to be a retaliatory act against Algeria's support for the ongoing French military action against Islamist rebels in Mali.
Following his emergency decision to intervene in Mali, Hollande ignited revenge threats of al-Qaeda-affiliated cells who said he had put French citizens' safety at risk.
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