At least seven hostages and 11 kidnappers were killed Saturday as the Algerian Army launched its final assault against the Islamic militants holding hostages at a desert gas field. Earlier in the day, officials reportedly found 15 unidentified burned bodies at the plant, where terrorists took an unconfirmed number of people hostage four days ago. The U.S. has confirmed that one American—58-year-old Texan Frederick Buttaccio, who was a BP sales-operations coordinator—was among those killed. A senior Algerian official said the government is not planning talks with the militants. “They are being told to surrender, that’s it. No negotiations. That is a doctrine with us.”
