Army helicopters have killed a top al Qaida leader and four associates as they were speeding through the desert in the south of Algeria, an official said.

The gas plant at Amenas is giving up its secrets as Algerian special forces picking their way through the vast complex find dozens of bodies, some charred beyond recognition in the bloody end-game to one of the worst hostage crises in years.

FRANCE is growing impatient with the lack of progress on reaching a political solution to the crisis in Libya, but officials denied Paris is in talks with Gaddafi’s government or could consider him not quitting power.