US official: Three Americans dead in Algerian standoff

WASHINGTON (AP) - An Obama administration official says a total of three Americans are among the dead from last week's hostage standoff at a natural gas complex in Algeria, while seven others made it out.

The official says the latest victims have been identified as Victor Lynn Lovelady and Gordon Lee Rowan. The FBI has recovered the bodies and notified the families.

Militants who attacked the gas field had offered to release the pair in exchange for the freedom of two prominent terror suspects jailed in the United States: Omar Abdel Rahman and Aafia Siddiqui (ah-FEE'-ah see-DEE'-kee). Abdel Rahman is a blind sheik convicted of plotting to blow up New York City landmarks. Siddiqui is a Pakistani scientist convicted of shooting at two U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

The Obama administration rejected the offer outright.

The other American death was confirmed Friday, that of Texas resident Frederick Buttaccio.