AP Sources: 1 American Dead In Algerian Standoff - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

AP Sources: 1 American Dead In Algerian Standoff

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials say one American has died in the hostage standoff at an Algerian gas complex.
    
The officials say the deceased American is a Texas resident, Frederick Buttaccio. It is unclear how he died.
    
The officials say Buttaccio's remains have been recovered and his family has been notified.
    
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

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ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) - Algeria's state news service says about 60 foreign hostages are unaccounted for in the standoff with Islamist militants now entering its third day.
    
The news service said more than half the 132 foreign hostages had been freed, but the report could not account for the rest. The report Friday also said special forces had resumed negotiations after an assault Thursday at the gas plant deep in the Sahara.
    
A Mauritanian news site that frequently receives messages from al-Qaida linked militants said the hostage-takers in Algeria had offered to trade two captive Americans for two jailed terror figures in the United States.
    
One of the two, Omar Abdel Rahman, masterminded the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Panetta: US-British working to free hostages
    
LONDON (AP) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the U.S. is working with the British and Algerian governments to assess what's happening on the ground at a natural gas complex in the Sahara where Islamic militants are holding hostages from at least 10 countries.
    
The fate of many of the captives remains uncertain.
    
Speaking in London Panetta says the U.S. is "working around the clock to ensure the safe return of our citizens."
    
Panetta says the terrorists should be on notice that they'll find no sanctuary in Algeria or North Africa.
    
He says anyone who looks to attack the U.S. will have "no place to hide."