A spokesman at the development agency said officials had briefed Congress on the contracts and "had answered each and every question in this regard."

Some military officials briefed on the military lawyers position also disputed the notion that the lawyers had reversed course.

The officials then briefed Mr. Berger in 1996.

But Ms. Muñoz said congressional officials briefed on the program told her they were led to believe that it could be no longer than six years.

Shortly before the announcement, a high-ranking official briefed foreign correspondents here on why the Government felt it necessary to take such draconian action.

As part of a new outreach effort, Palestinian officials briefed municipal leaders on Sunday night about the receiving teams.

He says military officials would brief him on secret projects with jargon-filled phrases even he could barely understand.

And both French and German officials briefed the British.

"Obviously, there is a good deal of difference of opinion," he said after Cabinet-level officials briefed Senate Democrats.

But the officials briefed on the findings declined to specify which security measures the Cole's crew failed to carry out.