Bush administration officials said the delegation did not have any official government blessing and would not carry any message to North Korea.

In an apparent protest, the Iranian delegation, which had pitched its flag next to those of Britain, France, Germany and the European Union, carried it away before the Europeans made their statements.

A delegation of nobles carried the late king from the palace while choruses of boys and girls lined the path to the pyre, singing hymns to the Lady.

The arriving Soviet delegation was carrying draft proposals for a document that could set terms for a temporary suspension of work.

The delegation also carried a 250-million franc treasure to counter introduction of the US occupation franc.

But a delegation of other Congressional Republicans was carrying a very different message to President Bush.

He suggested that the two Korean delegations each carry its own flag, with a single Olympic flag in front of them.

The first protest came shortly after 1 p.m., after a delegation from the Senate carried in the electoral votes in two wooden boxes bound in leather.

The American delegation still carried the pain of losing tens of thousands of young soldiers in the Vietnam War.

President Kim declined to meet with Mr. Perry, though American officials believe that he read a letter from President Clinton that the American delegation carried.