The State Department is confirming that three Americans were killed in last week's hostage standoff at a natural gas complex in Algeria, while seven other Americans made it out safely.

Ain Amenas gas field in Algeria (Kjetil Alsvik/AFP/Getty Images)
Ain Amenas gas field in Algeria (Kjetil Alsvik/AFP/Getty Images)
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Officials say Victor Lovelady and Gordon Rowan were killed at the gas field in the Sahara along with Frederick Buttaccio, whose death was confirmed last week.

A State Department spokeswoman says, "The blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out." She says the United States will work with Algeria's government to learn more about the attack, and try to prevent similar threats in the future.

Militants had offered to release Lovelady and Rowan in exchange for the freedom of two prominent terror figures jailed in the United States. The offer was quickly rejected.

Five Americans had been taken out of Algeria before Saturday's final assault by Algerian forces against the militants. A U.S. official says the remaining two Americans survived the four-day crisis at an oil rig at the facility.

 

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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