NEW : Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said his nation 's officials had urged Algeria 's government to avoid exposing hostages to danger . 6 Islamic are freed or escaped , State Department says . U.S. says 6 hostages were killed in the wake of a military operation . Terrorists are `` entrenched '' in a gas refinery with captives , State Department says . The Algeria rejects a reported prisoner exchange offer voiced by a jihadist spokesman .
NEW : 6 Islamic are freed or escaped , State Department says . U.S. says 6 hostages were killed in the wake of a military operation . Terrorists are `` entrenched '' in a gas refinery with captives , State Department says . The Algeria rejects a reported prisoner exchange offer voiced by a jihadist spokesman .