UPDATED 18:49 PM EST, January 17, 2013
The U.S. condemned the militants for holding hostage several Americans and dozens of other people at a natural gas plant.
Militants said the deaths occurred after Algerian military helicopters strafed the area during an attempt to free those being held. They said seven hostages survived, but White House, Pentagon and State Department officials would not confirm any details about the Americans who were being held.
