The panel would also like to question several Israeli arms dealers and Israeli officials involved in the arms deal, an American official said.

Investigators say they next wanted to question officials at Hughes about what Mr. Pandolfi had learned on his trip.

Mr. Olmert is trying to forestall such an inquiry, which might have legal powers to question him and other top officials.

The session is the first of many planned by the Governor to allow the public to question top officials about state business.

Prosecutors have also questioned current and former officials of the Democratic National Committee.

He invited journalists to go up to the blockade with him to question Mayor Vitus and other Serbian officials there.

It was there, straight and simple, when he questioned officials.

He was one of dozens of residents who questioned officials about the plan at a recent meeting.

Nonetheless, they confirmed that the Government had subpoenaed internal company documents and questioned officials.

The department disclosed the settlement yesterday after a reporter questioned officials about concerns raised by several department employees that the deal provided special favors to Wal-Mart.