The officer, still very politely, declined to answer my questions.

He said that the officer declined to answer questions from investigators yesterday, but would speak to them today.

The officer declined, witnesses said, but the stage was set.

American officers have declined to say whether the bombings killed Iraqis thought to be responsible for the helicopter attacks.

More than a dozen trustees and officers declined to comment or did not return calls.

But officers declined to intervene, prompting yesterday's protesters to go a step further and enter the building.

Later yesterday, however, he and other officers declined to be interviewed.

At Mack, corporate officers declined yesterday to discuss the company's announcements.

The officer declined to give his name, saying he feared he would become a target.

The Soviet officer declined to say how many missiles could be fired by the command post.