They saw clearly why Kazakh officials said no more testing here.

According to the American executive, a senior Kazakh official recently described the early deals with foreign oil companies as "giving them everything they wanted in exchange for beads."

No terrorist attack has ever been carried out successfully in Kazakhstan, though Kazakh officials say they have uncovered and prevented attacks.

President Nazarbayev demanded 87 percent of the income from the Tengiz field, and Kazakh officials threatened to open the field to general bidding.

Mr. Giffen's and Mr. Nazarbayev's close relationship sparked resentment among some senior Kazakh officials.

Folco Galli, a Justice Department spokesman, confirmed that information had been sent last week about possible transfers to Swiss accounts of money belonging to Kazakh officials.

Another senior Kazakh official, the cable said, "appears to enjoy loosening up in the tried and true 'homo Sovieticus' style - i.e. drinking oneself into a stupor."

Two people were killed in the disturbances and some 200 were injured, according to a senior Kazakh official.

A large amount of irradiated copper was sold to China by a private Kazakh company three years ago, prompting a protest from Beijing, Kazakh officials said.

Financial aid was tied up until last spring when Kazakh officials finally stopped demanding that Washington fork up $12 million for unpaid utility bills and pay taxes on its assistance.