The conclave of cardinals will take place amid extraordinary secrecy and seclusion.

At the same time, Mr. Chen, who carried out his research under extraordinary secrecy, claimed a Pyrrhic victory of sorts.

He added: "The Iran-contra scheme unfolded amid extraordinary secrecy.

Last week, a judge told New York City that it needed to present better arguments to justify such extraordinary secrecy.

Critics of the Bush administration say that extraordinary secrecy has generated the rash of disclosures.

In modern times, the building of the atomic bomb, conducted under the Manhattan Project's extraordinary secrecy, set a threshold for weaponry.

Despite the extraordinary secrecy with which the book was published, newspapers report that several lucky children in Virginia received early copies.

It was acquired in conditions of extraordinary secrecy.

These concerns help explain the extraordinary secrecy surrounding President Bush's surprise Thanksgiving Day visit.

The book was printed under extraordinary secrecy by the publisher, Simon & Schuster.