Algeria's prime minister says two Canadian nationals were among the band of al-Qaida-linked militants who stormed a natural gas complex and took hundreds of workers hostage.

Abdelmalek Sellal did not say Monday whether the Canadians were among the 29 militants killed by Algerian forces that stormed the site, or the three who were captured alive.

At least 37 hostages died in the attack, with five more unaccounted for, according to Algeria. The dead include seven Japanese citizens, Japan said Monday.

The militants had said during the four-day standoff that their band included people from Canada, and hostages who escaped recalled hearing at least one of the militants speaking English with a North American accent.