WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The White House said onThursday it believed Americans were among the hostages held bymilitants at an Algerian gas plant, was concerned about reportsof loss of life in an operation by Algerian forces and wasseeking clarification from the Algerian government.
"This is an ongoing situation and we are seeking clarity,"White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters when asked aboutthe Algerian military operation to break the desert siege.President Barack Obama was being briefed regularly by hisnational security team, he said.
Carney said the U.S. government was still trying todetermine the number of casualties and who they were, and wasalso in touch with BP officials in London. He said there was noimmediate confirmation of al Qaeda links to the hostagesituation and Washington was trying to find out what group wasbehind it.