As Algerian security forces on Sunday tallied up the bodies at a sprawling natural gas facility in the aftermath of a bloody international hostage crisis, debate was emerging about whether the militant group linked to al-Qaida that seized the plant had been intent on a massacre or whether it had simply been after money.
The crisis erupted Wednesday, when militants staged a dawn raid on the desert gas complex. The United States and other Western governments had urged caution and put intense pressure on the Algerians to avoid hostage deaths.
White House officials and congressional staff said Sunday that they received only scant information from Algeria's government and military throughout the ordeal. Algerian authorities seemed determined to use force even at the risk of harm to hostages, the officials said.