Two dead Islamist militants found inside the Algerian desert siege site were Canadians, an Algerian security source said on Monday, Jan 21.

Algerian special forces had discovered the bodies at the Tiguentourine gas plant near the town of In Amenas, the source said.

Troops stormed the plant on Saturday, ending a hostage crisis which began when Islamists took control of the site before dawn on Wednesday. Many hostages, including American, British, French, Japanese, Norwegian and Romanian citizens, are among those missing or confirmed dead.

An official Algerian source said previously that the group behind the attack had comprised Arabs, Africans, and also people from outside the African continent, Reuters reported.