Political leaders bristle at questions about corruption.

Afterward, both leaders bristled at Mr. Cuomo's criticisms.

Many European leaders are still bristling over Condoleezza Rice's 2001 declaration that the treaty was "dead on arrival."

Cuban-American leaders bristle at such remarks.

Many town officials and civic leaders bristle at the fact that representatives of Island Properties have been less than forthcoming about the group's plans during their periodic meetings.

Across the Middle West, religious leaders bristle at the use of the Bible to promote financial schemes.

Many Christian and Sunni leaders bristled at Hezbollah's claims of victory, when whole swaths of the nation's infrastructure were devastated.

Chinese leaders invariably bristle at pressure from American officials, and they could view the new American "priorities" as an unwelcome intrusion.

Yet even in the face of what experts are calling a crisis in New York, academic leaders still bristle at shedding their competitive armor.

The leaders of civil liberties groups bristled yesterday at Mr. Giuliani's plan and promised to seek constitutional challenges in court.