LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Britain was not given priornotice of the Algerian government operation to release hostagesat the remote gas plant where they are being held and would havepreferred to have been informed, Prime Minister David Cameron'sspokesman said on Thursday.
Cameron had called his Algerian counterpart AbdelmalekSellal at around 1130 GMT on Thursday.
"The Algerian Prime Minister explained that the situationwas very fast-moving and that in the government's judgement theyneeded to act immediately," the spokesman said.
"The Algerians are aware that we would have preferred tohave been consulted in advance," he added.
Cameron told Sellal after the operation started that he wasextremely concerned about the "very grave and serious"situation, the spokesman added.