(Newser)
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At least one American is among the dead in the Algerian hostage standoff, reports AP. It identifies him as Texas resident Frederick Buttaccio and says US officials recovered his remains from the sprawling gas complex today. NBC News say he was one of five Americans at the plant: Two others escaped at the outset of the three-day siege, and two remain unaccounted for.
The fear is that they are still being held hostage by the al-Qaeda-linked militants, who reportedly demanded today that the US free two convicted terrorists in exchange for their freedom. Algeria says 12 hostages in all have been confirmed killed; it says 100 of 132 foreign hostages have been freed.
