Second Malaysian found dead in Algeria crisis

The death of a second Malaysian worker in the Algerian hostage crisis has been confirmed after his body was identified by his dental records and a tattoo, the Malaysian foreign ministry said Saturday.

The man, Tan Ping Wee, had been unaccounted for since Islamist militants attacked the In Amenas gas plant in the north African desert on January 16.

"Tan Ping Wee's body was identified by the forensic team through his dental records as well as confirmation of his tattoo by his family," Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement.

Two other Malaysians working at the plant returned home Wednesday while another had stayed in Algiers to help locate Tan, the last Malaysian unaccounted for following the attack.

According to preliminary estimates by the Algerian authorities, 37 foreign hostages and 29 kidnappers died in the Islamist attack against the gas field and in the military operation that followed.

The hostage-takers were demanding the release of Islamist prisoners and an end to France's intervention in Mali.