From Lance Armstrong . Hear next . A military operation at an algerian gas plant appears to be ongoing, three days after al qaedaflynt fighters took hundreds of workers hostage. Although more than six other people are reported to have been released, 30 Foreign Workers remain unaccounted for. Algerian state media says 12 hostages have died. These and the people we were able to escape what may have been a terrifying experience for them, and relieved, they most certainly are. Algerian television took these pictures, and it shows men, with praise for the algerian army, which took on the hostage crisis. The algerian army. I think they did a fantastic job. I am very impressed. My thoughts are with colleagues. Still, the most reliable estimates are that dozens of hostages remain missing, unaccounted for, and a second operation has been undertaken by algerian forces to try to find an end. Hopefully, it will be better than the first one, which ended in about 30 workers killed by troops, who apparently bombed it jeeps they were traveling in along with their kidnappers. Britain, france, the usa, they all said they had not been told that a rescue is being attempted. The british minister said he was not happy. Mr. Speaker, our priority remains the safety of british and the evacuation of the wounded and freeing of hostages. They are going to out jeers, together with other specialists, and the algerian Prime Minister has agreed my request to fly south as soon as possible to support those involved. This remains a crisis with many component parts. Military teams have been taking care. Some have been moved to the capital city. Hostage negotiators are on the ground to help find a solution. And western leaders who helped liberate libya and now say they are ready to fight. Terrorists should be on notice. They will find no sanctuary, no reference, no refuge, not in north africa, not anywhere. The longer it goes on, the more it seems other groups may try to attack other targets. Aljazeera. A former u. S. Ambassador and former Deputy Assistant joins us live. Good to have you with us on aljazeera. The situation, the military operation as we understand it right now in algeria is still going on. They say this is in response to algeria allowing the funds to use their airspace to intervene in mali. How closely linked are the events . Good to be with you. I think there are very closely linked. The al qaeda and islam group, that is an offshoot of an army that fought the government of algeria for 10 years, until 22, when they were defeated. An offshoot went down into mali with 15 european hostages, and the ransom to them for 5 million, and they remained in that area and grew stronger, and as they grow stronger, they took more hostages, and eventually, they perhaps had as many as 90 million in ransom from western countries. How strong is this group right now . Are they much stronger than previously thought . When you look at what is happening in algeria and also the french intervention in mali, the othernot forget situations. How has that exacerbated the situation . All of the weapons that were not under control, the rebels were fighting the government. They slowed down into the south, where the group was in control of the smuggling route and also had money to buy them from their hostagetaking. But this is much more serious than i think many countries and the african countries as well fought. They knew that arms had come down. They knew they had come back from libya, but the capacity for planning, the breadth of their operation is really astounding. Right now, they are about 1200. I apologize. One report puts the figure of half of 1 billion. They were trying to fight these al qaedalead to groups in mali. France, to be more specific. Well, 500 million for any number of years is not a lot of money. I was just looking at a report the other day. We had assistance that was put into kenya. We are talking about an area of 7 to 8 african countries, an area that is over 5000 square miles, and the point i was going to make is that the group and their allied groups were down in the south of mali, fighting the french. And then in the meantime, the leader of one faction has been able to make this audacious attack on the bp gas plant. That means they can operate with impunity the route to this whole area. Just finally, let me ask you two questions. Now that france is in mali, do you think the group will be weakened . And not only there, but that entire region. Will they be much more involved . I think we should state thank you to the french, merci, for coming in, because in my view, they have saved mali the would have been under harsh, sharia law. They follow sufi law, which is very mild, which is not be jihadist religion as opposed to that going on in northern mali. The french, they have done quite well. I think they have retaken timbuktu and some other northern cities. The next step is to go into the sierra, and that can only be done with help of countries like algeria, which really have the experience in desert warfare. United states can help. We can bring our experience from our fighting in afghanistan and iraq and provide the african soldiers are going to fight this battle with trading. We can provide training and logistics, and we definitely have interest in doing this, because this aqim, the body is now in mali. It has links, arms, into nigeria and libya, including the one you possibly killed our ambassador and colleagues. The squabbles of all of the areas that are ill got burned or undergoverned around the region, that are ill governed or ungoverned. Good to talk to you. Thank you very much. The u. N. Is warning of a growing crisis in neighboring mali. There was a focus of heavy fighting. Fleeing the violence that is engulfing much of their country, these people are from the strategically important town. It has been the focus of much of the recent fighting, with conflicting reports about who is in control. Those who have escaped the violence there are grateful to have made it this far. People are terrified. Often, they are in a horrible position, without having brought anything with them. A ungroup says it believes hundreds of thousands of people are being displaced by the conflict a u. N. Group says that. They are carrying out atrocities on the civilian population. They report to having witnessed executions, amputations, and large amounts of money are being offered to fight against the malian army and rebels. They are trying to deal with this, an influx of french soldiers. These men are one element of the International Stabilization force including troops from a regional group. A promise was made that they be your here by january. In many places, it is the presence of french troops that many have welcomed. This village is very close to the frontline. At the beginning, we were scared, really scared, but now, where we stand today, thank god. But the International Community efforts to help the mali government are clearly making a difference in the conflict here, but they may need to do more if their mission is to succeed. Aljazeera. The u. N. High commissioner for human rights has told aljazeera the situation in syria has deteriorated. She says crimes resulting from violence should be investigated. The united nations, a report. In southern syria, a residential neighborhood which is now a war zone, where the bombardment continues around the clock. People run for cover, but there is nowhere safe. Incidences like this one are war crimes, according to these. These current members of the Security Council are among 58 nations that have signed a petition, demanding that syria and all sides in the conflict be referred to the International Criminal court. In the face of such a dramatic death toll and the silence of the Security Council, we thought we must speak out on the absolute need for accountability and to send a clear message that the International Community is not turning a blind eye to the atrocities being committed in syria. The situation in syria has been repeatedly discussed around this, the Security Council table. In 2011, 2012, and now in 2013. All the time, the death toll continues to rise. It is now above anyones worst fears. Yet, because of disagreement around this table, there is little chance. A u. N. Human rights chief came to new york to brief ambassadors on the beach rereading situation. Do you feel a sense of frustration that you keep raising these issues . And yet there is little from around the table . I am deeply concerned about just the figures. 60,000 dead is not a matter that should be treated lightly. Across syria, men, women, and children are suffering and dying every day. In new york at the Security Council, their plight continues to be met hear is a recap of the top stories in aljazeera this hour. It appears to go on going. Although more than 600 people have been released, many remain unaccounted for. 700,000 people could be forced to flee their homes. Troops are leading operations. They are trying to take control of the north of the country. And telling out to syria that the situation has deteriorated. They want the crime to be fully investigated. And they are investigating the attack on a director with the bolshoi ballet. He is in the hospital after the incident, which happened outside his home. As we report from moscow, there is shock about what is being regarded as a wide attack on the cultural institution. The nature of the attack there is none of the grace or arc usually associated with ballet. Police say he was attacked close to his home. A masked man threw acid in his face before running away. I got scared. I thought he was going to shoot me. I could not see much. I turned around to run away, but he overtook me. I was wearing a hood, but he put the acid right on me. A celebrated dancer, seen here performing in swan lake. He had been working as the artistic director of the bolshoi for almost two years, but it is his job that has sometimes led him to conflict. Something absolutely horrible has happened. It is hard to believe such a thing could happen in the theater world. It is like going back to the chaos of the 1990s. But what does it have to do with the theater . It is a big tragedy for all of us. We are shocked. They opened just over one year ago after a renovation. But it has not been enough to heal all of the cracks within the company itself. The bolshoi is regarded as one of the finest from around the world, but in recent years, it has been beset by scandal and resignation. Two years ago, two left in protest over changes of the repertoire. There have been worse. As of there have been worse periods. Not only a brilliant cultural figure but also for the whole of russian culture. The russian Prime Minister, dmitri medvedev, described the attacks as a horrible tragedy and said those responsible will be punished. Aljazeera, moscow. We are two hours away from the second part of the Lance Armstrong tell all interview with oprah winfrey. Disgraced after a meeting he cheated, and light. Also, at the International Cycling union headquarters. After more than a decade of denial, the man accused of the biggest doping situation in history finally admits things. Did you ever take banned substances to enhance your performance . Yes. He admitted to using banned substances all seven times he won the Tour De France and offered this explanation. What was it for years before lost or flaws that may be willing to risk it all . I think just a ruthless desire to win. Armstrong was stripped of his cycling titles and given a life ban after being found guilty of numerous offenses by the United States antidoping agency. While that was going on, lives around him were being destroyed. Drag him off to manchester to apologize. And apologize to them. Those try to clean up the sports are not convinced by the confession. I think he has told part of the truth. I do not believe he has told the whole truth. I think he continues to lie in certain areas, and i think where it is convenient, he will tell the truth, but where is inconvenient, he will not. He has been accused for years, and they remain skeptical. It he talked about a donation. I have never heard of them asking anyone for a donation, so why would they do that with armstrong . One group finds itself attacked from all angles. Some are not happy with the investigation. The Lance Armstrong interview makes this critical, not only for the governing body but for the whole of the sport, which has been ripped apart by the scandal. Aljazeera, switzerland. Lets talk about this. Just under two hours from the second part. What are we expecting . He had been doping throughout his career. With how these revelations affected those closest to him. There was his livestrong foundation, which he founded. He was told to step down when the Agency Report came out. They also talked about revealing how much a financial hit he has had to take from sponsors pulling out in various court cases, and even more action possibly being being brought against him. Other figures in this conspiracy . Oprah winfrey tried to get with a doctor, but he refused to do so. He also suggests that everybody was involved in some way, shape, or form, but he refused to actually name names, and that could be because he is worried about any possible legal action. This is two parts. Maybe there is a big bombshell that we can find out later on in a couple of hours time. Thank you very much for that. Well, the u. S. Justice department has accused the former mayor of new orleans of corruption and bribery. Ray nagin is accused of accepting kickbacks to exchange be favored with contracts after Hurricane Katrina. We will use whatever means as necessary. He became the face and voice of new orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. The storms devastated parts of the city, and for many, mayor ray nagin seemed to be the only one demanding action. He is now charged with counts of wire fraud, bribery, filing false tax returns, and others. He took payments, travel, and other awards, they allege, in exchange for contracts. The indictment reads mayor ray nagin used his capacity for things that benefit the interests of individuals providing him with bribery kick back pay ops. They also glitchy accepted bribes to secure millions of dollars in contracts to rebuild after katrina. They are expected to testify against the former mayor. Two officials have also pled guilty. His performance during katrina essentially assured a separate term in 2006. We are drawing a line in the sand and saying, we have had in had it. Completing office in 2010, he kept a low profile, rarely mentioned in the media, until now. Aljazeera. Republicans in congress are showing the first signs of backing down over the looming debt crisis. They announced they will present a bill. A move will avoid an immediate default by the u. S. Treasury. And security scanners that produce naked images in airports are being scrapped. The government has canceled its contract, over concerns of passenger privacy. They will be removed and replaced with less invasive technology. And authorities have wrapped up an investigation into the boeing and technical problems. A battery forced a japanese owned dreamliner to make an emergency landing. All of them around the world have been grounded. In boston, it was the auxiliary power battery. This time, it is the main battery. This is extremely unusual. The effect of this incident on the Airline Industry is big, and we fully understand the importance of publishing a neutral report as quickly as possible. And a referendum will be held next month. The ireland the islands between britain and argentina, britain says it will only release which sovereignty will only release sovereignty and a situation caused by a cleaner. A woman had been accused of trying to steal. She was seriously injured when a train jumped the tracks and plowed into something. A heat wave is continuing in australia, with two bridges reaching record levels and parts of the country. There are fires in the southeast, and some have been burning for nearly one month. Firefighters are struggling to contain the situation. And with temperatures climbing to a record high, many people headed to the beach. The last record was set back in the last record was set back in