Pressure for new US hostage strategy after drone killings

The accidental killing of two hostages in a US operation against al-Qaeda has put a new spotlight on the Obama administration's reliance on drones in the battle against terrorism - and has also raised pressure on the White House to revise the nation's oft-criticised strategy for dealing with abducted Americans and their families.

A day after President Barack Obama apologised and took responsibility for the deaths of American Warren Weinstein and Italian Giovanni Lo Porto in a January strike along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, officials said on Friday that a nearly year-long, interagency review of the hostage policy was to be completed this spring.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the administration was considering whether to create a "fusion cell" comprised of the FBI, Pentagon, State Department and intelligence community to ensure they closely coordinate on rescue efforts and communication with families.

"These families are in a terrible situation - unthinkable to imagine what it would be like to have a loved one, a family member, being held against their will by a terrorist organisation," Earnest said.

The review will not affect the long-standing US refusal to offer ransom or other concessions for the release of hostages.

"Paying ransom or offering a concession to a terrorist organisation may result in the saving of one innocent life, but could put countless other innocent lives at greater risk," Earnest said.