The US on Thursday said it had no details about the status of American and other hostages after it was reported that 35 captives were killed in Algeria during an attempt to free them.
"We are seeking clarity from the Algerian government about this matter, and obviously we are focused most intently on the status of Americans," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Asked to confirm if any of the American hostages were alive or dead, Carney said only that the US was "deeply concerned about any loss of innocent life."