WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House is condemning the taking of dozens of hostages, including several Americans, from an oil plant in Algeria by militants linked to rebel Islamists in Mali.
Militants claim that 35 hostages were killed Thursday, after Algerian military helicopters strafed the area during an attempt to free those being held. They say seven hostages survived.
White House press secretary Jay Carney won't confirm the status of the Americans or whether the U.S. offered to help the Algerian government with its raid on the energy complex.
Carney says the administration is monitoring the situation closely, is concerned about reports of killings and is in contact with the Algerian government.
