By Ian Johnston and Tracy Connor,
NBC News
WASHINGTON — The fate of foreign hostages still held in Algeria was a mystery Friday as Islamic militants reportedly offered to swap two Americans for the release of a blind sheik jailed for terrorism in the U.S.
The Algerian military launched a second raid on the multinational cabal of kidnappers — led by a one-eyed al-Qaida associate — who laid siege to the In Amenas gas plant on Wednesday, state TV reported.
The situation was fluid, but the U.S. said one thing was carved in stone: It would not be cutting any deals with the captors.
Full story: Militants offer to swap US hostages for blind sheik
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