American officials declined to confirm any such agreement and said talks were continuing.

The government and the factory declined to confirm or deny the reports.

Lawyers involved in the case declined to confirm his testimony.

President Bush, declining to confirm the report, chose not to deny it either.

A Sun spokesman declined to confirm whether the company plans the market test.

He declined to even confirm that prosecutors were producing a report.

He declined to confirm that Pakistani troops were killed in the attack.

United States officials declined to confirm the $400 million figure.

But he declined to confirm a specific start date, saying the rules would be put into effect "very shortly."

When approached by reporters, he declined even to confirm his name.